The West Bengal police has arrested twenty-one people in connection with a clash that broke out between two groups of people in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Friday evening.
The police officials told the media on Saturday that the situation has been peaceful in the area since then but in order to prevent any misinformation to be spread, the West Bengal government ordered suspension of internet and voice-over-internet telephony services till March 17.
The West Bengal police has arrested twenty-one people in connection with a clash that broke out between two groups of people in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Friday evening.
The police officials told the media on Saturday that the situation has been peaceful in the area since then but in order to prevent any misinformation to be spread, the West Bengal government ordered suspension of internet and voice-over-internet telephony services.
The clash happened in the Sainthia police station area and soon after receiving information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, reported PTI.
Police also informed that a few people from both groups suffered minor injuries in the violence, and were administered medical aid.
In order to prevent incitement to any kind of offence, the state government suspended internet services in Sainthia town and five other adjoining panchayat areas in the Sainthia police station area till March 17.
According to reports, the internet and voice-over-internet telephony services were suspended to prevent the spread of rumours and unlawful activities but the phone and SMS services are open.
Additional forces have been deployed in the area to maintain the law and order situation.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari did not appreciate the Trinamool Congress-run Bengal government's step to suspend internet in the area and further slammed the the law and order situation.
Adhikari took to X platform where he alleged, "This restriction on Internet services is not only an evidence of deterioration of the Law & Order Situation in the State, but also an acceptance of incapability on the part of the Administration to control the situation."
He also accused the West Bengal Government of "trying their best to hide the events of communal flare ups to save their face."
"The West Bengal Government are trying their best to hide the events of communal flare-ups to save their face. I urge @HMOIndia and His Excellency, the Hon'ble @BengalGovernor, to seek a report from the Chief Secretary (@chief_west) of WB regarding the deterioration of the law and order situation in the state," he added in the post.