The Government banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days across the country from today to check spread of rumours which has led to exodus of north eastern people from certain states.

The decision was taken after reports of widespread

circulation of SMSes and MMSes containing misleading

information about Assam violence, threats to people of

northeastern origin living in other parts of the country and

doctored videos.

The Home Ministry has asked Department of

Telecommunications to implement the order through the telecom operators.

From today onwards, no one will be able to send more than five SMSes in one go and more than 20 KB of data through mobile phones during the ban period.

The ban came into force after Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh said that spread of rumours by miscreants had led to the fleeing of people belonging to the north east to from Bangalore, Pune and some other parts of the country.