Braj Mandal Yatra: Haryana govt suspends mobile internet, bulk SMS services in Nuh for 24 hours from today

Braj Mandal Yatra on Monday, 22 July: The Haryana government has ordered the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS services in Nuh for 24 hours beginning 6 pm on Sunday. The directive comes ahead of the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra that was marred by violence last year.

The internet service in the district will remain suspended from 6 pm Sunday to 6 pm Monday, according to an order by Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Anurag Rastogi.

"... there is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public and private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquility in the district Nuh..," the order read.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said, "We have alerted the officials. I want to appeal to the people that this is a religious event. We live in a society of harmony... The yatra passes through the Braj Mandal by the devotees of Lord Krishna. There should be cooperation during the yatra to make it successful..."

The suspension order was given "to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours" through social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

Meanwhile, the Nuh Police said tight security arrangements have been made to ensure that the Yatra passes off smoothly.

“It has been seen earlier also that rumours are spread during such events. So, we have requested (service providers) to suspend internet services in the district from 6 pm today till 6 pm tomorrow. Its sole purpose is to control rumours and false propaganda,” says Nuh SP Vijay Partap shared an update on preparations for the yatra which begins on July 22.

Haryana Nuh Violence 2023

The 2023 Haryana riots, also known as the Nuh violence were a series of clashes in northern India that originated in the state of Haryana and have subsequently spread to nearby regions.

On 31 July 2023, communal violence erupted in the Nuh district of Haryana between Muslims and Hindus during an annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Two home guards were killed and at least 15 others, including several policemen, injured on July 31 last year as a mob in Haryana's Nuh district tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, pelting stones and setting cars on fire.

By the evening of the same day, fresh incidents of communal violence were reported from Gurugram and Sohna. The same night, a mob attacked a mosque in Gurugram and killed its naib imam. At least five people were killed and scores injured in the immediate aftermath of the interfaith clash.

As of 3 August 2023, the situation had resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 200 reported injuries.