Internet shutdown in 4 districts of Telangana following Communal violence

Telangana : Internet has been suspended in four districts of Telangana following the Communal violence occurred in Bhainsa of Nirmal district on Sunday night. This is the first instance, since the outbreak of Anti-Citizen Amendment Act protest, the government of Telangana has called for a 'complete internet shut down' in four districts.

The department of Telecommunication (DoT) – Telangana sent an SOS message on Sunday late-hours to service providers; Airtel, Idea, Vodafone and BSNL to shut down internet in undivided Adilabad district and Nirmal with immediate effect. The message read. “We have received that communal riots have started in Adilabad district (areas which includes present Adilabad, Asifabad and Mancherial district). It is directed to shut down only internet services with immediate effect in undivided Adilabad’. While there is no suspension on the voice calls

To maintain the law and order in the communal violence hit district, the Telangana police, on receiving the inputs have sent a 2 battalions of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF personnel to Nirmal district.

What happened on January 12 in Bhainsa town of Nirmal district

People from two communities clashed in the communally sensitive Bhainsa town of Nirmal district of Telangana, leaving more than five police officers injured. Nirmal SP C Shashidahr Raju, DSP K Narsing Rao and Circle Inspector Venugopal Rao are among those who were injured in the violence, said sources.

Though the exact cause of the skirmish is yet to be ascertained, it was apparently over a bike race between youngsters from one community. The racers got into an argument with the members from the other community who tried to stop them.

Three cases were registered in connection with the violence and investigation is underway. Police are in the process of identifying the miscreants who were involved in the violence.

As the situation remains tense, more armed parties are being rushed to the town while social media activity is being monitored by police and IT cells of different police wings and Intelligence department. In order to ensure return to normalcy, police have been urging people against circulating videos pertaining to the night’s violence. As Hyderabad is also likely to have an off-shoot effect, security has been beefed up in the State capital.

Police found that more than 20 bikes were torched, close to 15 houses were completely gutted, but there were no reports of any burglaries.