Haryana suspends mobile internet services in 14 districts till Saturday
The Haryana government on Friday decided to suspend mobile internet services in 14 more districts of the state till 5 pm of January 30 “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order” in the wake of the farmers’ agitation against the three agriculture laws.
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An order issued by the Home Department said, "the mobile internet services except voice calls will remain suspended with immediate effect until 5 pm on Saturday in districts of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari and Sirsa districts,"
On Tuesday, the government had ordered suspension of mobile internet services in Sonipat, Jhajjar and Palwal districts “to prevent disturbance of peace and public order” after a violent farmers’ protest rocked neighboring Delhi.
The services will remain suspended in these three districts too until 5 pm on Saturday, as per the order.
Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally in Delhi called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for the repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.
According to the order, "The Haryana government ordered suspension of telecom services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA/GPRS), all SMS services (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services, etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of districts of the 14 districts and extended suspension in the districts of Sonipat, Palwal and Jhajjar for next 24 hours till 5 pm on January 30."
“This order has been issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of these three districts of Haryana,” the order said.
Adding, “Whereas it has been brought to my notice by ADGP, CID, Haryana…that provocative misinformation and fake news on social media regarding ongoing farmers’ agitation has been rampant across in various districts of Haryana and there is a likelihood of disturbance of law and order, public peace and tranquillity in some districts of the state by protesters, agitators, miscreants and anti-social elements…,”
“…And whereas, there is a clear potential of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disruption of public law and order in some districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours. In order to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours and divisive propaganda through various social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc. on mobile phones and SMS, for facilitation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators who can cause serious loss of life and damage to public and private properties by indulging in arson or vandalism and other types of violent activities..,” the order further stated.
-PTC News
