New Delhi
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Internet services across parts of central Delhi will be suspended from 10 pm on Thursday, October 9, ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in election-related processes.
The shutdown will remain in force until 10 pm on Friday, October 10, covering an area within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing in New Delhi. The order has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs and directs telecom operators to suspend mobile internet services in the designated area.
Internet services in parts of Central Delhi are scheduled for suspension from 10 pm tonight due to a proposed CJP protest, implemented to ensure law and order during the event.
The restrictions will apply across mobile internet technologies, with Delhi Police instructing Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and MTNL to implement the order.
Delhi Police Denies Permission for Protest
The internet shutdown comes amid heightened security arrangements ahead of the October 10 demonstration, which the CJP and several student organisations have called despite being denied permission by Delhi Police.
Joint Commissioner of Police for the New Delhi range, Nupur Prasad, said the police had received an application from Saurav Das, co-convener of the CJP, regarding the proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar.
According to Prasad, permission was denied because the application was submitted late and because of alleged violations of rules during an earlier protest organised by the party.
The CJP’s proposed demonstration seeks to put pressure on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down amid allegations concerning election-related procedures.
Shutdown Ordered Under Telecom Rules
The suspension order has been issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2024.
With the restrictions scheduled to remain in place for 24 hours, mobile internet users within the specified area may face disruptions to online communication and other data-dependent services.
