Indian Censorship Spreads to Web, Social Media

Authorities fear efforts to fan sectarian violence

India's government is blocking up to 250 web sites and social media accounts as part of on-going efforts to arrest the spread of damaging rumours which it believes are designed to incite sectarian violence.

Following violent clashes in Assam over the past month between ethnic Bodos and immigrant Muslims, rumours began to spread via bulk SMS messages last week of reprisals against north-east Indians migrants living in cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune.