The authorities in various cities of Uttar Pradesh have suspended internet in view of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Uttar Pradesh and Friday prayers. The state of Uttar Pradesh has witnessed massive and violent protests against the new citizenship law. At least 17 people were killed, over 200 police personnel injured and state-owned property damaged across Uttar Pradesh, last week in violence during the protests against the amended law.
In view of the violent protests that erupted in Uttar Pradesh last week, the authorities have suspended internet services in Bulandshar, Mathura, Ghaziabad, Agra and several other cities in the state. In Buldnshahr, internet services have been snapped till December 28 morning. In Agra, there would be no internet services till December 27.
The district administration in Agra and Bulandshahr took the decisions anticipating protests against the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
In Bulandshahr, internet services were suspended at 5 pm on Thursday. The services will stay shut till 5 am on Saturday. The district administration has issued the orders as a precautionary measure in the wake of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Internet services have been snapped in Saharanpur till Friday to stop spreading of any rumour due to protest against CAA. An alert has also been sounded in Saharanpur before the Friday Namaz in the city.
“To prevent spreading of rumours we have decided to close internet services till tomorrow and we have sent a letter regarding that to telecom service providers,” SSP Dinesh Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
SSP Dinesh Kumar further said the police team is interacting with the local leaders and religious organisations in Saharanpur to ensure peace is maintained in the city. Paramilitary force personnel and state police force will be deployed and drone cameras will be used to ensure security on Friday, DM Vijyendra Pandiyan said.
“Those who spread rumours on social media will be traced and arrested. Tomorrow, Friday prayers will be offered and we appeal people to offer Namaz, remain peaceful and do not participate in any procession,” the SSP said.
In Agra, internet services will remain suspended till 6 pm on Friday (December 27) in anticipation of the protests against the Citizenship Act as violent protests were witnessed in Agra city last Friday against the CAA.
“Violent protests have been witnessed against the CAA in Aligarh, Hathras, Firozabad and other districts. Regarding which rumours are being spread on social media. According to sources, some organisations can stage protests, leading to the law and order problem,” Additional District Magistrate (City), Prabhakant Awasthi, told ANI.
In Bijnore, internet services have been snapped for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.
Internet services have also been snapped in Deoband in Uttar Pradesh till the next order. In Ghaziabad, internet services will remain suspended from 10 pm on Thursday. It will remain suspended till 10 pm on Friday and in Mathura for 24 hours from 6 pm on Thursday.
Security was beefed up and patrolling intensified in Uttar Pradesh to ensure peace ahead of the Friday prayers, keeping in mind the widespread violence that hit the state last week during protests against the amended citizenship law.
To avoid a repeat of last Friday’s violence in Gorakhpur, police staged a flag march in sensitive areas and held a meeting with peace committees in all circle and police station areas.
Meanwhile, the process to confiscate the property of those involved in damaging public assets during the protests gained momentum with 372 people being served notices in different districts.
A home department spokesperson on Thursday put the death toll at least 17 in the violence last week, which left 288 policemen injured, including 61 who received firearm injury. DM Vijyendra Pandiyan said 327 FIRs have been registered and 5,558 preventive arrests made.
The maximum 200 notices were issued in Moradabad followed by 110 in Lucknow, 34 in Gorakhpur and 29 in Firozabad, an official spokesman said. In the entire state 1,113 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in violence against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
[“source=indiatoday”]