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

The decision was taken after reports of widespread circulation of SMSes and MMSes containing inflammatory and misleading information of the Assam violence. This medium was also misused to threaten people of north-eastern origin living in various cities. Several doctored videos, falsely claiming to depict Assam violence were also going around. As a result of this, many North Easterners were fleeing cities fearing some kind of reprisal against them and a general sense of paranoia has overtaken the country.