SMS ban makes cell users restless

I could hardly believe this when I first read about an SMS ban in India. As crazy as it sounds, the Indian government has decided to ban SMS on mobile devices to help prevent the spread of rumors about the final day of Ganesh immersion. SMS, who would have thought of it as a threat?

Particularly for those accustomed to tapping SMS’ (short messaging service) on their handsets, as most cellular operators across the state barred SMS on mobile phones from 2 pm to 12 midnight in line with directives from the police supposedly to stem spreading of rumours on the final day of Ganesh immersion.

Most GSM operators claimed that the directive from the police called for barring SMS only in Vadodara. A Hutch official said that as the orders for SMS barring had been made only for Vadodara, the same was being implemented from 2 pm to 12 midnight.