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Authorities in one of the districts of northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh state have blocked mobile internet services after clashes broke out between the members of two different castes, police said Thursday.
Officials said the step was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent spreading of "rumours" and stop "outsiders from instigating the violence in the district".
"The mobile internet has been blocked to stop people from using social media and internet based messaging service for rumour-mongering aimed at instigating violence," a police official posted in Saharanpur district told Xinhua.
"The service was stopped after an order was issued to mobile service providers on Wednesday evening to block the internet."
One person was killed and several others injured on Tuesday evening after a truck carrying Dalit (low caste) community members was attacked reportedly by Thakurs (belonging to upper caste) in Saharanpur district, about 711 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
According to locals, the Dalits were returning after attending a rally of their leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati.
Mayawati, heads India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party that has support base in Uttar Pradesh and following among millions of low-caste Dalits.
On Wednesday morning two Dalit youth were attacked with knives in the district.
The police have detained over two dozen people in the district and deployed government forces in huge strength to contain the situation and prevent situation from worsening. Authorities have suspended the district police chief and other local officials immediately after the violence.
"Right now the situation is under control," the police official said. Casteism, though prohibited in India's constitution, is deep-rooted in Indian society, especially in smaller towns and villages.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
