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Delhi Suspends Mobile Internet Ahead of Jantar Mantar Protest
Mobile internet is set to stop working in part of central Delhi for 24 hours.
The restriction is planned from Friday night until Saturday night.
It comes before a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Protesters want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and want a voter-roll review changed.
Police said the internet restriction was requested ahead of the demonstration.
The report also describes security and transport measures, including the closure of metro stations.
The Supreme Court said authorities should take care not to disrupt the daily lives of ordinary people.
The internet notice covers mobile internet and does not establish that home broadband or voice calls will stop.
Mobile internet is scheduled to be suspended within a four-kilometre radius of Janpath–Kartavya Path Cross from 10 p.m. Friday, October 9, to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 10.
The restriction was requested by Delhi Police and considered by the Union Home Secretary, according to a police letter to telecom companies.
CJP supporters, student groups, activists and opposition figures planned to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and rollback of the voter-roll revision.
Authorities took additional security and transport measures; the report says 57 metro stations were closed and police and paramilitary forces were deployed.
The Supreme Court objected to restrictions that could disrupt ordinary citizens and public transport, while clarifying that the proceedings focused on those impacts rather than the broader right to protest.
- Who
- Delhi Police, protesters including CJP supporters and student organisations, and affected residents and commuters.
- What
- A planned 24-hour mobile internet suspension and a protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and rollback of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing in central Delhi; the demonstration is planned at Jantar Mantar.
- When
- The internet suspension is scheduled from 10 p.m. Friday, October 9, to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 10; the protest is planned for Saturday.
- Why
- The suspension was requested ahead of the demonstration, while protesters oppose alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process.
Public order concerns
Effects on ordinary citizens
Restrictions ahead of the protest
Public order concerns
Authorities requested a mobile internet suspension ahead of the planned demonstration, with large gatherings and law-and-order concerns cited in the report.
Effects on ordinary citizens
The Supreme Court expressed concern that restrictions could disrupt commuters and other residents who were not taking part in the protest.
Transport and access
Public order concerns
The report describes security and transport measures, including metro-station closures and deployment of police and paramilitary forces.
Effects on ordinary citizens
The Supreme Court said there should be no complete prohibition on metro train movement and called for ordinary citizens and public transport to be protected from unnecessary disruption.
Key facts
- Internet restriction
- Mobile internet suspension across technologies
- Affected area
- Four-kilometre radius of Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing
- Scheduled period
- 10 p.m. October 9 to 10 p.m. October 10
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Protest demands
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and rollback of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Metro measures
- The report says 57 Delhi Metro stations were closed; the Supreme Court said there should be no complete prohibition on metro train movement.
- Other reported measures
- The report says some long-distance trains were stopped, police and paramilitary forces deployed, and alcohol shops closed.
Quotes
Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India who led the Supreme Court bench considering restrictions ahead of the protest.
“We have serious concerns about this. Our concern is not about the protesters, or about the authorities, but about hundreds and thousands of commuters in Delhi for their livelihood, children and senior citizens. We are talking about common citizenry. They should not be disturbed. Everybody doesn’t have a car or facilities.”
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Sources
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