Haryana suspends mobile internet and SMS services for 24 hours in Nuh ahead of Braj Mandal Yatra

The Haryana government on Sunday ordered suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Nuh district ahead of the Braj Mandal Yatra.

Mobile internet and SMS services will remain suspended for 24 hours in Nuh district of Haryana state in response to Monday’s Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, which was marred by communal violence last year and left at least five people dead.

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According to an order issued by Haryana Deputy Home Minister Anurag Rastogi, mobile internet and SMS services will remain suspended in Nuh district for 24 hours ahead of the Braj Mandal Yatra. The suspension will come into effect from 6 pm on Sunday and will continue till 6 pm on Monday.

“There is apprehension that tension, nuisance, riot, damage to public and private property and disturbance of public peace and quiet in Nuh district may arise,” the order said.

According to the order, the suspension was enforced to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

No communal violence

Meanwhile, Nuh police said tight security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the Braj Mandal Yatra through the communally sensitive district, which had become the scene of a wave of communal clashes that engulfed several districts in Haryana last year.

On July 31 last year, a violent clash broke out in Haryana’s Nuh district after a mob tried to stop a procession organised by the right-wing group Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). The mob pelted stones at security forces and set several vehicles on fire, leaving two home guards dead and at least 15 others, including several policemen, injured.

The violence escalated further after a mob attacked a mosque in Gurugram the same night and killed a Muslim preacher.

Immediately after the clashes, at least five people were killed and many others were injured.

(With PTI inputs)