Internet back in Assam: Twitterati heaves sigh of relief, thanks lawyers

With the Gauhati High court directing the state government to restore internet services in Assam, social media platforms, particularly Twitter, has been flooded with tweets appreciating the move and congratulating the lawyers behind the PILs challenging the internet ban.

Guwahati (Assam):"Internet is back" - this was a common status of many users on social media platforms as mobile data services were restored across Assam on Friday, ending a nearly 10-day internet blockade in the state.

From students to professionals, teenagers to adults, people heaved a sigh of relief, and many took to Facebook and Twitter to express their sentiments and opinions.

While most were just relieved to see the mobile internet connection back in their phones, many Twitter users also thanked the lawyers associated with the PILs that were filed in the Gauhati High Court challenging the suspension of internet services in the state.

Internet services were suspended in Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) and several other districts on December 11 evening to prevent misuse of social media in disturbing peace and tranquillity as well as to maintain law and order.

The services were restored on Friday even as protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued in the state.

"After nine days, finally the government has resumed mobile Internet Services in Assam as per high court's order," wrote Nabajyoti Lahkar, a user on Twitter and signed off with 'Jai Ai Axom' - the rallying cry resonating with each major protest in the northeastern state.

Chinmoy Deka, a student of B Borooah College in Guwahati, was relieved to use his smartphone after nine days.
"The moment I turned on the internet on my phone, dings of Facebook and WhatsApp notifications on my phone kept making the jangling noise. I had several thousand notifications on WhatsApp. It just kept pouring in," he told reporters.

Deka, who opposed the CAA and had joined protests earlier, said that with the internet restored, many people also resorted to memes mocking leaders of the central and state governments who have been supporting the law.

"On WhatsApp and Facebook, many put up their status reading 'Internet is back', in English, Assamese or both. Some used sarcastic remarks to criticise the government over the internet services suspension," he said.

Several social media users also thanked the lawyers associated with the case heard by the Gauhati High Court after public interest litigations were filed to challenge the suspension of internet services.

Many went on to demand compensation for the loss of mobile internet data.

The Gauhati High Court had earlier directed the Assam government to restore mobile internet services at 5 pm on Thursday.

A division bench of Justices Manojit Bhuyan and Saumitra Saikia directed the restoration of internet services after hearing four PILs filed by journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, advocates Bonoshri Gogoi, Randeep Sharma and Debakanta Doley.

While many took to social media to express their views on the anti-CAA agitation, Assam police asked people to be cautious in posting anything on such platforms.

"Mobile Internet services have been restored in the state. We request citizens to be cautious while posting or sharing unverified/provocative information on Social Media.

"We are looking forward to your continued support in ensuring peace & harmony in the State," Assam Police tweeted.