Kashmir tops India in internet blockades

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Year 2017 saw more internet shutdowns in J&K than the unrest-hit 2016, with the state becoming major contributor to the disturbing phenomenon in India.
As per the data compiled by the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), a Delhi-based not-for-profit organisation, of the 114 internet blockade instances in India, 53 happened in J&K.
Internet services were shut 25 times in 2017 as compared to 10 internet shutdowns in 2016, highlighting how muzzling the virtual communication has been the go-to strategy for the authorities in the valley.
These 35 times accounted for 66% of the total suspension of internet services in India in the two years.
The longest period of mobile internet blackout happened after the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. Post-paid mobile internet services were restored in mid-November, while pre-paid services returned on January 30 this year.
According to the data, most of the internet shutdowns have taken place in three south Kashmir districts.
In the year 2015, 2014 and 2013, J&K witnessed five internet shutdowns each and three internet blockades in 2012.
The common reason authorities give to choke internet is preventing violence fueled by rumours circulated on social media or mobile messaging applications.
The first internet ban in Kashmir this year was imposed on April 8 when mobile and broadband services were shutdown from midnight in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts ahead of the Srinagar Parliamentary seat by-poll. However, the restriction on Internet services was extended to the entire Kashmir valley on April 9 and was in force till April 12 till the proposed Anantnag by-poll.
According to Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat account for 57% of the shutdowns and the bulk of them happened in 2016 and 2017.
The next biggest chunk of internet shutdowns is from the Eastern and Northeastern States, UP, West Bengal, Bihar and Nagaland. But these only account for 21% of internet shutdowns from 2012-17.
Interestingly, the Southern states and Goa did not have a single internet blackout.
The data also revealed that 49 of the 73 recorded shutdowns targeted mobile Internet services, and 10 targeted both mobile and fixed-line services. So far, no shutdowns have targeted fixed-line Internet services alone, and the targets of 14 shutdowns are unknown.
Moreover, the 27 of the 73 recorded shutdowns lasted for less than a day, 17 lasted between 1 and 3 days, and 16 lasted for more than 3 days. No information is available on the duration of 13 shutdown instances.
Of the 73 shutdowns recorded since 2012, 37 were preventive in nature i.e. imposed in anticipation of a law and order problem, while 36 instances were reactive in nature i.e. imposed in response to an ongoing law and order problem.