The Haryana government has suspended internet services in 12 villages in Ambala district in light of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ agitation resuming on Saturday as protesting farmers plan to make another attempt to march towards the national capital from the Shambhu border.
Internet services in Dangdehri, Lohgarh, Manakpur, Dadiyana, Bari Ghel, Choti Ghel, Lharsa, Kalu Majra, Devi Nagar (Hira Nagar, Naresh Vihar), Saddopur, Sultanpur and Kakru villages will remain suspended from 6 am Saturday till midnight on December 17.
Banking and mobile recharge services will remain functional, officials said.
Dr Sumita Misra, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home), issued the orders after the police made a request saying that there was an “apprehension of tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public and private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in the area of district Ambala in view of the call for Delhi-Kooch (march) given by certain farmer organisations”.
The order further stated that internet services would be suspended 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”.
Farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM, non-political), are taking part in the ‘Dilli Chalo’ agitation over several pending demands, including the legal guarantee of a minimum support price for crops.
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