For fifth consecutive year, India imposed most internet shutdown across world in 2022
Washington: According to Access Now, India imposed the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022. India topped the list for the fifth successive year.
Based on the report published by the digital rights advocacy group, 187 internet shutdowns have been recorded globally, out of which 84 took place in India including 49 in Indian- administered Kashmir.
“Authorities disrupted internet access at least 49 times in Kashmir due to political instability and violence, including a string of 16 back-to-back orders for three-day-long curfew-style shutdowns in January and February 2022,” the report added.
Although India topped the list of internet shutdowns in 2022. There were fewer than 100 shutdowns last year for the first time since 2017, the watchdog said.
With the Russian military cutting internet access after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Ukraine is on the second list facing shutdowns at least 22 times in the country.
Third list’s Iran with internet services being suspended for 16 times last year when Nationwide anti-government protests erupted after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Special squad to flush out illegal Bangladeshis: K'taka min
Bengaluru (PTI): A special squad will be formed to flush out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from the state, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Thursday.
Replying to a calling attention by MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in the state Assembly, Reddy said the agents who bring Bangladeshis to the state will also be arrested.
Reddy said that when he held the home portfolio in the past, a special squad was formed to identify Bangladeshis in agriculture estates.
"If needed, we will form a special squad, identify the illegal Bangladeshis in the state and send them back," the minister assured Yatnal, who is an expelled BJP legislator.
"We will start a drive to flush out the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to deport them. We will also book and arrest the agents, who bring Bangladeshis to Karnataka," Reddy said.
Yatnal claimed that there are about 25 lakh illegal migrants from Bangladeshis in the state who are working in the agriculture estates, shopping malls and security agencies and demanded the government's response.
Reddy said there were 370 illegal Bangladeshis in Karnataka of which 213 people have been sent back while action is being taken against the rest.
Those who have not been repatriated have been kept at the Foreign Detention Centre since they were involved in some criminal cases.
The minister said that people from the north east and West Bengal were being mistaken for Bangladeshis.
"Karnataka has people from the north east and not Bangladesh. There are about eight lakh to 10 lakh people from West Bengal, seven lakh to eight lakh from Bihar, people from Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Bengaluru," Reddy said.
He blamed the Centre for the illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
"Where do the Bangladeshis come from. Bangladesh is not next to Karnataka. The Centre should stop the illegal migrants. Why are they letting Bangladeshis in Karnataka," he charged.
Yatnal welcomed the formation of the squad as he noted that illegal Bangladeshis pose serious security threat to India as they could be "underworld dons and terrorists" .
The MLA alleged that the state intelligence department has completely failed as they could not detect the actual number of Bangladeshis residing in the state.
"Over 25 lakh Bangladeshis are there in the state and they are involved in various kinds of crime. The way these Bangladeshis are burning Hindus alive in their country, that kind of situation should not arise in Karnataka," the Vijayapura MLA said.
He also charged that the police book cases against those who try to find out illegal Bangladeshis, a charge the minister rejected.
Yatnal also demanded protection to those who provide information as they should not be troubled. In reply, Reddy said, "let them provide information but they should not take law into their hands."
