In a democracy like India, internet shutdown has become a norm.

To minimise the spread of social media messages, which can cause hatred among the population, during or after protests, arrests or killings, the authorities cut access to the internet.

Mobile internet services were shut down in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin after 13 people were killed, when police opened fire at a crowd of 5,000 protesters.

Trouble started when protesters demanded the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin District.

Later, Madras High Court directed the district authorities to issue prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC, barring assembly of more than four people in and around the Sterlite plant.

Here’s how frequent suspension of internet services has become in India:

Previously, internet services were shutdown for 72 hours prior to the the court verdict in the sexual exploitation case against the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in August, 2017.

First Published:May 25, 2018 6:43 PM IST