Internet, SMS services barred in Navi Mumbai

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has ordered all telecom operators to suspend mobile Internet services in some cities including Navi Mumbai where the proquota Maratha agitation has turned violent.

In Navi Mumbai, the state home department ordered the companies to shut down mobile data, SMS and dongle services for 34 hours, starting from 2 am on Thursday to noon Friday.

This is to curb spread of inflammatory or fake information via social media and messaging services, it said.


Caught unawares, telecom users in the affected parts called customer-care staff of the companies since Thursday morning to complain about disruption in services. “I had to get some work done but now cannot book cabs because there is no mobile data. My income tax filings too could not be completed. With no Internet and SMS services, we are seriously inconvenienced,” said Rakesh Prasad, a 65-year-old retired banker, who lives at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.