The Odisha government has extended the suspension of social media services, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), in the entire Malkangiri district following continued tension and violent clashes between two communities. The violence was triggered by the discovery of the headless body of a tribal woman, which led to widespread rioting and arson between villages.
The ban, initially imposed for 24 hours on Monday, has been extended until 12 PM on Tuesday to prevent the circulation of "false, provocative, and inflammatory messages" by anti-social elements, which officials believe were responsible for rapidly escalating the law-and-order situation.
Odisha | Prohibition on the use and access of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X and any other through internet and other medium of data services has been extended for another 18 hours upto 12 pm of 10 December in Malkangiri district. pic.twitter.com/NY40Vp42dv
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025
Violence Erupts Over Gruesome Discovery
The unrest began after the headless body of a 51-year-old tribal woman from Rakhelguda village was recovered from a riverbank on December 4. Investigations suggested the murder was linked to an ongoing land dispute between the deceased and a resident of the nearby MV-26 village, a settlement predominantly inhabited by Bengali settlers.
- Violent Retaliation: The discovery and the subsequent detention of a suspect from MV-26 led to an eruption of violence. Thousands of tribal residents, armed with traditional weapons, allegedly marched to MV-26 village, where they vandalized and set fire to numerous houses and vehicles.
- Widespread Damage: Preliminary assessments by the district administration indicate that 163 houses have sustained damage during the violence. Many residents of the affected village reportedly fled the area.
Social Media Ban and Prohibitory Orders
The government's decision to ban all mobile internet, broadband data services, and social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, X, etc.) was taken under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- Preventing Escalation: Officials stated that the temporary communication blackout was a necessary measure to contain the rapid spread of rumours and hate messages, which were fueling the violence and threatening public peace.
- Security and Peace Efforts: Heavy deployment of police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel has been made in the affected areas. The Malkangiri Collector confirmed that the situation is now under control, and an agreement has been reached between the two communities following a Peace Committee meeting.
The state government has also announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹4 lakh for the victim's family, while search operations are underway by a scientific team and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) to locate the missing head and gather forensic evidence related to the killing.
