The Haryana government has ordered a temporary suspension of mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services in the Ambala district from December 14-17 to prevent the spread of misinformation and potential law-and-order disruptions following the ‘Delhi Kooch’ call by farmers’ organizations amid the ongoing protests.

The order dated 13 December, says the notification will be effective from December 14, 6:00 am, until December 17, 11:59 pm, the restrictions apply to specific villages, including Dangdehri, Lohgarh, and Saddopur.

Essential services like individual SMS, banking communications, voice calls, and broadband remain unaffected to minimize public inconvenience while ensuring peace and order.

What Does The Order Say?

In an official order, the Haryana authorities said, “In view of the call for Delhi kooch given by certain farmer organizations, there is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public & private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in the area of district Ambala.”

“There is a clear potential for disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in district Ambala on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which could be circulated to the public through social media, messaging services on mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services,” it said.

“In order to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Twitter, etc. on mobile phones and SMS, for facilitation and mobilisation 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. In exercise of powers conferred upon me under Section 20 of The Telecommunications Act, 2023 to be read along with Rule (3) of the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, I, Home Secretary, Haryana do hereby order the suspension of the mobile internet services. All telecom service providers of Haryana are hereby directed to ensure the compliance of this order,” the order read.

“This order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the area of villages Dangdehri, Lohgarh, Manakpur, Dadiyana, Bari Ghel, Choti Ghel, Lharsa, Kalu Majra, Devi Nagar (Hira Nagar, Naresh Vihar), Saddopur, Sultanpur and Kakru in the jurisdiction of district Ambala,” it read.

Internet services suspended in parts of Ambala with immediate effect from 14th December (06:00 hrs) to 17th December (23:59 hrs) in Haryana in view of the farmers’ march towards Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Fs5lJ6QSb5

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that a ‘Jathha’ of 101 farmers will make a fresh attempt to march to Delhi from the Shambhu border point of Haryana at noon on Saturday.

Notably, farmers are asking for a charter of 12 demands, including MSP for crops to be met by the state and Union governments.

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