Assam: Internet Services To Remain Suspended Across State Today For 3.5 Hours, Here's Why

The Assam government issued an order stating suspension of internet services in the state on Sunday for around three and a half hours.

Assam government has ordered suspension of internet services in the state on Sunday.

Source : PTI

Mobile internet and wi-fi services will be shut in Assam for around three and a half hours on Sunday from 10 am to 1:30 am throughout the state. The Assam government ordered the suspension of the internet, however, voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines will remain functional. 

The order has been issued in view of a written examination for recruitment to Grade III posts, the order read. 

The notification, signed by Ajay Tewari, additional chief secretary, Home and Political department said the order has been issued “in the interest of holding free, fair and transparent public examination and also to prevent arising of any law and order issues having bearing on public safety”.

According to the notification, Mobile Internet/ mobile data/ mobile wi-fi services in the entire state will remain suspended from 10 am to 1.30 pm on Sunday.

“It is however clarified that the voice calls and the broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines may remain functional during the aforesaid period,” the notification added.

As per the notification, 11,23,204 candidates are slated to appear for the exam in 2,305 centres on Sunday of which 429 have been identified as "sensitive" ones due to their geographical location and history of cheating and other malpractices. 

The move to suspend internet services also came after "some unscrupulous elements resorted to unfair means using different mobile applications" on earlier such occasions. 

The notification also mentioned a "substantial apprehension that the anti-social elements or the organised groups shall try to take advantage of the situation by resorting to rumour-mongering through social media and may try to destabilise the process of examination".

The examination is scheduled from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on September 15. The decision to suspend internet services in the state due to examination has been taken earlier as well. In August 2022, mobile internet services were shut for four hours in almost all the districts for two days when written examinations for Grade III and IV posts under the State Level Recruitment Commission (SLRC) were conducted for the first time.