While several social media accounts have been blocked, the police have also raided the homes and seized the mobile phones of journalists and lawyers. Activists have slammed the action, accusing the government of trying to silence critical voices.
For the past six months, there has been a movement around the subdivision (small town) of Zira in the North Indian state of Punjab. The movement centres around pollution of groundwater, caused by the Malbros International Private Limited distillery in the area.
@Kisanektamorcha, the official handle of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, and @tractor2twitr are two of the biggest among the accounts that have been withheld by Twitter citing the 'country’s Information Technology Act, 2000.'
Active members of the farmers' protest said they knew social media was being used to target them – and that's why they came up with their own social media strategy.