Shillong, March 20: The state government has imposed a 48-hour internet ban in the entire Garo Hills region from March 10, 10 am
In a notification issued on Tuesday, the Principal Secretary in-charge of Home FR Kharkongor said reports have been received from the Police Headquarters and several Deputy Commissioners of the districts in the Garo Hills Division that several incidents having a potential to disturb public peace and tranquillity, have occurred in various parts of the Garo Hills on the 9th of March, 2026, in connection with the issue of filing of nominations for the GHADC elections, and that several incidents have been reported in Tura and other locations that have a potential to cause a threat to public safety in the districts of the Garo Hills Division which may likely cause breakdown of law and order.
The government reports have stated that there were several incidents of assault on civilians, gathering of large crowds and misinformation being spread through social media to cause social disharmony between communities, in all the districts of the Garo Hills division, whereas, messaging system like WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, etc. are likely to be used for transmission of information through pictures, videos and text, having the potential to cause serious breakdown of law and order. “Therefore, in order to prevent the misuse of the above mentioned media to disturb peace and tranquillity in the State of Meghalaya and for maintaining law and order, I, Shri F. R. Kharkongor, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Home (Political) Department do hereby promulgate this notification under the provision of Section 5 (ii) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, read with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 to prohibit the following types of media for a period of 48 (Forty-Eight) hours beginning from 10:00 A.M. on 10th March, 2026 in East Garo Hills District, North Garo Hills District, South West Garo Hills District and South Garo Hills District”, besides West Garo Hills.
• Mobile Internet data services of all mobile service providers.
Violation of this promulgation will be punishable under section 223 BNS and also under the relevant provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
The notification No. HPL/199/2018/140, dated the 9th March, 2026 issued for West Garo Hills District shall remain in force.
