Centre bans bulk SMSes, MMSes for 15 days

To check the spread of rumours which has led to the exodus of north-eastern people from certain states, the government has banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days across the country.

"We have banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days," said Union Home Secretary R K Singh.

The decision was taken after reports of widespread circulation of SMSes and MMSes containing misleading information about Assam violence, threats to people of northeastern origin living in other parts of the country and doctored videos.

The home ministry has asked the department of telecommunications to implement the order through telecom operators.

From Friday onwards, no one will be able to send more than 5 SMSes in one go and more than 20 KB of data through mobile phones during the ban period.

The ban came into force after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that rumours by miscreants had led to the exodus of people from the north-east from Bangalore, Pune and some other parts of the country.

Noting that the guilty should be brought to book, the prime minister said that at stake was not just the unity and integrity of the country, but also communal harmony.

"Any miscreant fanning rumours should be brought to book," he said.