India shuts down internet as protests over citizenship bill continue

The Indian government has blocked phone and mobile internet service in parts of the country where protests persist over the country's new citizenship law that excludes Muslims, AP reports.

The big picture: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government suggests temporary blackouts help to maintain law and order, has suspended internet access more than 100 times so far this year, AP notes. The internet has been down in the city of Aligarh for six straight days as of Saturday, and the heavily student-run protests have turned violent as well.

• "Critics have pointed to the rise of internet shutdowns in India as a mechanism of censorship and repression in response to growing opposition to the government," AP writes.

The state of play:

• At least 20 people have died as a result of the protests, including an 8-year-old boy, Al Jazeera reports.
• Police temporarily arrested thousands of people on Thursday, according to the Washington Post.

Go deeper:

• India rocked by deadly citizenship protests
• India's citizenship bill continues Modi's Hindu nationalist offensive