Chaos erupts in Odisha's Bhadrak district (image-X/KantInEast)

The Odisha government suspended internet services on Saturday in the Bhadrak district for 48 hours following incidents of communal violence that were triggered after social media postings, stated an official notification dated September 28.

Issued by Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Staybrata Sahu, the notice states that violent communal incidents emerged in Bhadrak and Dhamnagar due to social media postings.

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The district administration highlighted that social media platforms such as WhatsApp, X, Facebook, and others can potentially “inflame communal tension.”

Mobile internet or data services will remain suspended along with telecom services including use of Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and other social media platforms until September 30 in Bhadrak.

The Odisha government has suspended internet services in the Bhadrak district for 48 hours in view of violent communal incidents due to social media postings pic.twitter.com/eePD9Mtvu6

— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2024

The notice comes after a protest over an ‘objectionable’ Facebook post escalated and led to stone-pelting. According to the Times of India, the protest turned violent in the Santhia region after police inaction regarding the social media post. The protestors reportedly resorted to stone-pelting, leaving several police officials including City DSP injured on Friday.

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Satyajit Naik, Deputy Inspector General, Eastern Range, stated that ten platoons of forces have been deployed in the area, and other measures such as picketing and patrolling are also underway to maintain order.