PATNA, July 25 -- Internet services have been suspended in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, a key city of the state, from Friday noon till 10am on Sunday-a total of 46 hours -- after the district administration reviewed the "trouble potential" in the town following youth protests over the NEET exam paper leak. The precaution, according to officials, have also been taken as various organisations have given a Bihar bandh (shut Bihar) call for Saturday. Meanwhile, there were feeble reports of protests in other parts of Bihar, including capital Patna, and the police started taking action against those who participated in protests on July 22-23. As a precautionary measure, the state government asked the Muzaffarpur district administration to impose the internet ban under Section 20 of the Telecommunications Act 2023 till 10 am on July 26. Around 24 services such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, WeChat, Google, Skype, Snapchat, Telegram, YouTube as well as other social networking sites will remain affected for the next three days, officials said. A notification to this effect was issued by the state home secretary Kundan Kumar. It read: "As per available inputs and as reported by the DM and SSP of Muzaffarpur, some anti-social elements in Muzaffarpur Town area may use the internet medium to transmit objectionable content in order to spread rumors at large with a view to inciting the public to commit various offences and cause damage to life and property and disturb peace and tranquility. It is felt that misuse of social networking sites and instant messaging services is likely to be detrimental to the peace and tranquility in police sub division (Town-1) and police sub division (Town-2)." On Friday, while the state didn't witness brisk demonstrations unlike previous two days, the district administrations, police and other security forces remained on high alert and have been instructed to be in 24-hour alert mode. There were no protest marches witnessed in Patna, reports said. ADG law and order, KS Anupam said that there were peaceful demonstrations by students in various districts but there were no incident of any clashes with police. "There were students demonstration at certain places but it was largely peaceful," she said. In Seemanchal and Kosi districts,police forces remained on high alert. Police administration in all the districts had appealed to the students and the guardians to maintain peace while registering their protests. The state DGP Vinay Kumar had on Thursday cancelled all types of leave (except for special circumstances) for all police personnel until the next order. The police forces have been conducting flag marches in various parts of the cities. Anti-riot vehicles and water cannons are being kept ready for action. Along with this, the police personnel have been asked to continuously monitor Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp groups and other digital media to prevent the spread of misleading information. Following the direction of the police headquarters, the work of compiling advance information on the activities and programs of the student organisations in each district has started. Anti-riot vehicles, water cannons etc. are being kept in ready condition for 24 hours. The police stations have been asked to arrange enough buses so that the protesters can be detained. Live monitoring of CCTV footage installed in cities has been directed to monitor against the protesters. Adequate police force will also be deployed at sensitive places. On the other hand, the police in Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai and Munger districts have started initiating strict action against those who vandalized public property during the protest on Thursday evening. The officials said that the cost of damages will be recovered from the guilty in the form of a fine. The Muzaffarpur SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra said that incidents of damage to government property by some anti-social elements have been reported during the protest in the premises of the museum and other places. Police are investigating the case based on CCTV footage and photographs will be made available on social media for identification of the accused. He said Muzaffarpur police have appealed to the public to cooperate in identifying the persons in the published pictures by giving information on the helpline/contact number issued by the police, so that legal action can be ensured against the concerned persons. "A reward of Rs.10,000 will be given to the person who identifies/provides information about any of the miscreants depicted in the published photographs. The identity of the person providing the information will be kept confidential," the SSP, Muzaffarpur, said. The police on Friday released pictures of around 300 individuals, including 108 from Jehanabad, a town close to capital Patna, 72 from Katihar district labelling them accused of stone-pelting and vandalism, seeking public assistance in identifying them. Earlier on Thursday, Patna police had uploaded photographs of the 117 suspects on their official X accounts as part of efforts to seek public hep for their identification. Police officials said that all the accused will face action in accordance with the law....