Internet services have been blocked until May 18 in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district, after communal tension gripped the villages in eastern UP.

Clashes between two communities have left several injured, including a few policemen.

According to the state police, this is the first time the internet has been suspended for more than 72 hours in Uttar Pradesh.

Communal tension gripped parts of eastern UP, following clashes between members of two communities.

Police said the block is a precautionary measure to restrict rumour-mongering and to keep a check on online communications.

The clash that broke out on Saturday continued till the next day, and led to random firing between the two groups.

Besides the local villagers, others injured in the firing include two Superintendents of Police, a circle officer, a Senior District Magistrate, and several policemen who faced the bullets as they tried to bring the rioters under control.

Additional armed forces were deployed to check the violence on the streets.

A group of sleuths in Lucknow has been monitoring social media to keep tabs on divisive content being circulated by anti-social elements to incite the two warring communities.

“Due to deteriorating law and order situation, the police had to suspend the internet services in Azamgarh district on Monday. Miscreants started circulating volatile content, which was aimed at provoking and spreading rumours. Internet services will remain suspended till May 18,” a senior officer associated with content monitoring told Mail Today.

According to Azamgarh Police, the situation started because of enmity between two men named Musafir and Danish, from Khudadadpur village in Azamgarh, .

A few days back, Musafir was allegedly attacked by Danish, after which police intervention was sought and a complaint was registered.

Police said that on Saturday night, a few Muslim men allegedly set Musafir’s house on fire, which gave the incident a communal colour.

A dedicated team in Lucknow is monitoring online content and has been deleting defamatory material along with videos, images, and messages which could further spark tension.