Mobile Internet was cut off in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts in Madhya Pradesh as farmer strikes turned violent, reports the Press Trust of India. The publication added that five people were killed. Mandsaur and Ratlam’s district collector said that section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) was imposed to check the spread of rumours.

Section 144 of the CrPC allows local law administration to ban unlawful assembly and justify short bans on Internet services. Section 144 of the CrPC can usually be invoked by a district magistrate or the collector. This allows local law administration to ban unlawful assembly and justify short bans on Internet services. Section 144 of the CrPC can usually be invoked by a district magistrate or the collector.

The reports did not mention how long the suspension will be in effect or whether bulk SMS services would be cut as well.