Chandigarh: The Haryana government has suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Sirsa till August 8, to prevent to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the district. The order comes in the wake of the death of religious leader Bahadur Chand Vakil. The government also warned that any person found guilty of violation of the order will be liable for legal action under relevant provisions of law.
Tension has prevailed in Sirsa following the death of Bahadur Chand Vakil, the head of Dera Jagmalwali. Calling his death a conspiracy, his followers protested in Fatehabad on Tuesday and demanded a CBI probe.
In an official order, the government said there is risk of tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public and private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquility in the district. “There is a potential of disruption of “public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in Sirsa on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours,” the order, issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Anurag Rastogi, reads.
The state government further said that the decision has been taken in an attempt to stop the spread of misinformation through various social media platform, such as WhatsApp, Facebook and X, for “facilitation and mobilisation” of mobs of agitators 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.
“It is emphasised that this order is being issued after taking utmost care of public convenience by exempting individual SOS, mobile recharge. banking SMS, voice calls, interne services provided by broadband and lease lines of corporate and domestic households, thus not affecting the commercial/financial Interest of the State and basic domestic needs of individuals,” the order read.