On September 17, the Haryana Department of Home Affairs declared that mobile internet service in the Nuh district would be suspended until September 19.
The order was issued due to concerns that there would be tension, annoyance, agitation, damage to both public and private property, and disruption of the district’s general peace and serenity.
The Home Department’s letter explicitly said that the measure was made to halt the propagation of false information and rumors, which are frequently shared through SMS and social media.
According to specifics, the suspension will apply to GPRS, CDMA, 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile internet services. However, all dongle services will be unavailable between September 17, 2023, at 6 p.m., and September 19, 2023, at 12 a.m., with the exception of banking and mobile recharge.
The government said that the order has been issued “To stop the misinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, such as Whatsapp, Facebook, twitter, etc. on mobile phone 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.”
Prior to this, on September 15, the Haryana government decided to temporarily halt mobile internet and bulk SMS services in the area for two days after Congress MLA Mamman Khan was taken into custody in connection with the Nuh violence, which happened on July 31.
It should be noted that the government decree authorizing this move makes no reference to Khan’s detention as the cause of this suspension.
According to the order issued by Home Department Additional Chief Secretary T V S N Prasad, “This order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of district Nuh in the state of Haryana and shall be in force with effect from September 15 (10:00hrs) to September 16 (2359hrs).
