Hours after Cong MLA's arrest, Haryana govt suspends mobile Internet in Nuh dist

Chandigarh: Hours after Congress MLA Mamman Khan was arrested in connection with the July 31 Nuh violence, the Haryana government on Friday ordered the suspension of mobile Internet and bulk SMS services in the district for two days to prevent "the spread of misinformation and rumours". A government order in this regard does not mention anything about Khan's arrest though.

"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 (23:59hrs)," says the order issued by Home Department Additional Chief Secretary T V S N Prasad.

Prasad said the decision was taken after the Nuh deputy commissioner wrote to him on Thursday expressing apprehension there could be tension, agitation, damage of public and private property, and disturbance of peace and tranquillity in the district.

The additional chief secretary agreed there is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to assets and amenities and disturbance of law and order in Nuh on account of misuse of Internet services.

He said inflammatory material and false rumours are being or could be circulated to the public through social media and messaging services through Internet, SMS and dongle services.

"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, the mobile internet has been suspended," he said.

"...I do hereby order the suspension of the mobile internet services(2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the jurisdiction of district Nuh of Haryana State," Prasad's order reads.

He emphasised the order was being issued after taking utmost care of public convenience by exempting individual SMS, mobile recharge, banking SMS, voice calls, internet services provided by broadband and lease lines of corporate and domestic households.

This ensures commercial and financial interest of the state and basic domestic needs of individuals are not affected, the order said.

Khan, the Ferozepur Jhirka legislator, was named an accused in an FIR lodged after the communal clashes. He was arrested late last night, the Haryana Police said.

Adequate police forces have been deployed in the entire Nuh district following Khan's arrest. Tight security arrangement has been made in and around the court complex where Khan is expected to be produced by the police later in the day.

The Haryana government had last month too suspended mobile Internet services in the Nuh district for several days after the July 31 incident of violence.

A Vishva Hindu Parishad-led procession was attacked by mobs in Nuh on July 31. Six people were killed, most of them during the attack. A cleric died in an attack on a mosque in adjoining Gurugram.