Internet Shutdown: Is Konaseema Becoming Kashmir?

The internet in Konaseema district has been shutdown for the past 4 days. The entire digital transactions, communication, banking transactions, ATM deposits and withdrawals and works of IT employees, education, health and all major works, services that are directly and indirectly depending on internet have come to a grinding halt. This resulted in huge economic losses to many sectors and businesses.

The people are said to be frustrated with the district administration’s measures and irrationality behind internet suspension even after the situation returned to normalcy. After the May 25 violence allegedly due to Konaseema agitation against renaming the district after BR Ambedkar, district officials have suspended internet services including mobile internet. Attacks against Minister and MLA have angered the police department resulting in law and order issues.

“Social media and instant messenger apps were used to flare up violence. We have taken measures to stop spread of hate messages,” AP director general of police K V Rajendranath Reddy was quoted as saying in a leading daily. 

Blackout in Konaseema is affecting common people at large. Several IT employees, who were working from homes, are moving to neighbouring districts to resume their work. This is the first-ever internet shutdown in AP. The suspension of services remain intact. All these are making people fret and frustrated.