The Odisha Government has extended the suspension of social media access in Malkangiri district for 12 more hours until midnight on December 11, 2025.
Acting on a request from the Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri, the Home Department issued Notification No. 50505/C, signed by Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, IAS. The order continues the previous restrictions issued on December 8, 9, and 10.
The extended ban applies to platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other internet-based data services. Authorities invoked Section 20 of the TELECOMMUNICATION ACT, 2023, along with the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024.
Government services such as OSWAN, NIC Net, NKN, banking, and railways remain unaffected. These services are exempt under Annexure-‘A’ of the notification.
Officials warned that any violation of the order would attract legal action. The move aims to maintain public order and prevent misuse of digital platforms during sensitive situations.
RELATED STORY: Malkangiri Faces Another 24 Hours of Social Media Restrictions Until Dec 11
The murder investigation in Malkangiri gained momentum after police recovered a woman’s severed head nearly 40 kilometres from where her headless body was found on December 4, a day after she went missing.
The discovery near Rakhelguda helped ease tensions between MV-26 and Rakhelguda villages, which had remained in conflict since the incident.
