Now, TV channels blacked out

After suspending internet services, the Darjeeling district administration on Thursday blacked out local and regional television channels.

In an official statement, Darjeeling district magistrate Joyoshi Dasgupta said, “Public emergency has risen, which necessitated immediate action and speedy remedy for the maintenance of public tranquility.”

However, no restriction was imposed on voice calls.

“Any data-related message or classes of message to or from any person or class of persons related to any partial subject brought for transmission or transmitting any telegraph against the ambit of the Indian Telegraph Act shall be temporarily not be transmitted in the interest of the public,” said the statement.

Dasgupta said these restrictions, unless revoked or modified, will be valid till June 27.

“Any person inciting the commission of any offence within the limits of the district of Darjeeling, including the subdivisions of Kurseong and Mirik, will be punished,” she said.

The list of communication channels blacked out includes all telecom service providers in the district and cable channels based both in the hills and in the plains of Siliguri. The channels include Sikkim-based ABN News Network, Kurseong TV, and CCN Network.

“A situation of emergency has risen where unsubstantiated information is being circulated in some sections of the media with the view to inflame public sentiments and provoking public to violence,” said Dasgupta.

Internet services in the hills were suspended in the immediate aftermath of the June 17 firing that claimed the lives of three Gorkhaland supporters.