Internet services shut down in Nuh

NEW DELHI: In view of the call for a "Shobha Yatra" in Nuh, the Haryana government on Saturday ordered the suspension of mobile Internet and bulk SMS services in the communally charged district till August 28. Director-general of police Shatrujeet Kapur presided over a meeting with senior officers of bordering states through videoconferencing and called for a coordinated effort to effectively deal with the situation.

In the meeting, attended by senior police officers of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Union territory of Chandigarh, Mr Kapur said the administration has denied permission for the yatra due to a meeting of the G-20 sherpa group, scheduled to be held in Nuh during September 3–7, and to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the July 31 violence.

The government announced the decision to suspend mobile Internet from August 26–28, apprehending the spread of rumours through social media ahead of or during Monday's rally. The Nuh authorities had recently denied permission to hold the religious procession on August 28 after an earlier one in July was disrupted following communal violence.

On Saturday, additional chief secretary (home) T.V.S.N. Prasad issued the order to suspend mobile Internet. The district administration has also imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people in an area, as a precautionary measure. This order will be effective from August 26–28, said officials.

During this period, no person will be allowed to carry weapons such as licenced firearms, lathis, axes and others. According to an official statement on Saturday, the state police chief said that despite permission being denied for the yatra, there are inputs that certain organisations have invited people from Haryana and neighbouring states to reach Nuh on August 28.

Mr Kapur said all necessary arrangements have been made by the Haryana police in view of the proposed yatra. Police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. As a preventive measure, mobile Internet has been suspended in Nuh.

While emphasising the need for sharing intelligence inputs to effectively deal with the situation, Mr Kapur asked the senior police functionaries of bordering states to ensure regular monitoring of social media, share information about the people who try to disrupt peace through hate speeches and take action against them according to law.

He asked the police officers of bordering states that in case any incident that can disrupt communal harmony comes to their attention, it should be shared on a real-time basis so that preventive action can be taken on time.

"Inter-state barricading should also be done to prevent any kind of mobilisation of people. Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands," Mr Kapur said.

Additional director-general of police (law and order) Mamta Singh will be the nodal officer and will be stationed in Nuh.

The order suspending mobile Internet read, "...This order is issued to prevent disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of district Nuh and shall be in force with effect from August 26, 1200 hours, to August 28, 2359 hours."

On Friday, Nuh deputy commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata wrote to Mr Prasad, bringing to his notice that the Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat had called for a Brij Mandal Shoba Yatra in the district on August 28.

In his Saturday order, Mr Prasad said there is a clear potential for disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in Nuh via the spread of rumours and inflammatory content through the Internet. He ordered the temporary suspension of mobile Internet services, bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls.