Twenty-one people were arrested in connection with a clash between two groups of people in West Bengal's Birbhum district, police said on Saturday.
The clash happened in the Sainthia police station area on Friday evening, they said.
In order to prevent incitement to any kind of offence, the state government suspended internet services in Sainthia town and five other adjoining panchayat areas in the Sainthia police station area till March 17, according to an order.
After receiving information about the incident, police immediately rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, an official said.
The situation has been peaceful in the area since then, he said.
A few people from both groups suffered minor injuries in the violence, and were administered medical aid, he said.
Additional forces have been deployed in the area to maintain the law and order situation, he added.
The shutdown is in effect from March 14 to March 17.
The order further states that no restriction is being placed on voice calls or SMS. Similarly, no restrictions on newspapers have been placed, adding "Hence communication and dissemination of knowledge and information is not stopped in any way."
Slamming the state government for the internet suspension, the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari termed it as "evidence of deterioration" in the law and order situation.
Also read: B-Town soaks in the spirit of Holi
Taking to social media platform X, Adhikari alleged that the move was an "acceptance of incapability" on the part of the administration to control the situation.
As per media reports, a verbal altercation allegedly occurred between a group and some intoxicated individuals broke out in West Bengal's Sainthia town on Friday, on the occasion of Holi.
The situation further escalated as the two groups hurled stones at each other and engaged in fisticuffs, with some locals suffering injuries in the brawl.
Later, police brought the situation under control after a mild lathi-charge.
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