Photo: Najmi Arif / Shutterstock.com
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district imposed a 24-hour internet shutdown on November 24, affecting Sambhal Tehsil. The unrest, which resulted in four fatalities and left over 20 police officers injured, has highlighted the escalating tensions over heritage sites in India.
The violence stemmed from a court-mandated Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The survey was initiated after a petition claimed the mosque was originally a Hindu temple, mirroring similar disputes across the country.
Protestors, reportedly gathering near the mosque, turned violent, allegedly throwing stones and attempting to set vehicles ablaze. The district administration responded by restoring order and preventing the situation from spiralling further.
District Magistrate (DM) Rajendra Pensiya implemented an internet shutdown, citing the need to curb misinformation and rumours that could incite further unrest. Additionally, the DM prohibited outsiders, including public representatives and organisations, from entering the district without prior permission.
Schools up to Class 12 were closed, and residents were barred from keeping items on rooftops that could be used as projectiles.
This incident underscores the recurring use of internet suspensions as a tool to manage communal tensions in India. Authorities have increasingly relied on this strategy to control the spread of misinformation during volatile situations. Recent examples include shutdowns in Manipur earlier this month following protests over militant attacks.
Despite their effectiveness in curbing immediate violence, such measures have sparked debates about transparency and accountability. A landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India case mandates that governments publish internet suspension orders and subject them to review. However, compliance with this directive remains inconsistent.
Internet shutdowns also marginalise certain disadvantaged communities and cost hundreds of millions to the country.
In Sambhal, the administration has yet to release a copy of the internet suspension order, reports MediaNama, raising questions about the process’s opacity.
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