Farmers' Protest: Haryana Extends Mobile Internet Suspension In 7 Districts Till Feb 17

The Haryana districts where mobile internet services will remain suspended include Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.

Members of various organisations block railway tracks at Rajpura as they stage 'rail roko' protest in support of farmers agitating at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Haryana government on Thursday announced an extension of the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts until February 17, citing the ongoing farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' agitation as the reason, news agency PTI reported.

The Haryana districts, as outlined in the government's order, include Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. The extension follows a previous two-day suspension of these services, which was implemented on February 13.

Tensions escalated on Tuesday as farmers from Punjab encountered tear gas shells at border points while attempting to bypass barricades set up by the Haryana Police on their way to the national capital. The 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, seeks to exert pressure on the Centre to address demands such as legislating a minimum support price for crops and granting loan waivers.

In the government order, additional chief secretary of Haryana, T V S N Prasad, highlighted the ongoing critical and tense law and order situation in the aforementioned districts. Concerns were raised about the potential disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets, and the spread of inflammatory material and false rumours via the internet.

“After assessment of the current prevailing law and order situation in the state, the conditions are still critical and tense in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in above mentioned districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours,” the government order read, as reported by PTI.

The extension of the ban falls under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017.

As per the order, mobile internet services, bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services, except voice calls, will remain suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts until February 17 to prevent any disturbances to peace and public order. Telecom service providers in Haryana have been instructed to comply with the order diligently.