In a significant administrative move, mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended in parts of Jaipur for 24 hours starting from midnight on Sunday (June 7) to midnight on Monday (June 8).
The Jaipur district administration and police have taken this precautionary measure ahead of a massive anti-encroachment drive scheduled for Monday morning by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA). Heavy police deployment and strict prohibitory orders have been put in place to maintain law and order.
Here are the full details regarding the shutdown, the reasons behind it, and what remains operational.
🛑 Why is the Internet Suspended? (The Reason)
The primary reason for the internet blackout is a highly sensitive collective anti-encroachment drive being carried out by the JDA in the Jagatpura area.
According to official reports, the JDA enforcement wing is removing five religious structures that fall within the road boundary to widen the Nandpuri Underpass in Jagatpura. The structures slated for demolition include:
- One large Mosque
- Two Temples
- One Satsang Hall
- One Mazar (Shrine)
Because the removal of religious structures is highly sensitive, Jaipur Divisional Commissioner V. Saravana Kumar issued the internet suspension order to prevent anti-social elements from spreading rumors, religious frenzy, hatred, or provocative videos that could disturb communal harmony and public peace.
📍 Affected Areas and Timings
- Duration: 24 Hours (From 12:00 AM on June 8 to 12:00 AM on June 9).
- Affected Districts: All police station areas falling strictly under the jurisdiction of Jaipur North and Jaipur East police districts (including areas like Galta Gate, Manak Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Adarsh Nagar, Brahmapuri, Nahargarh, Kotwali, Shastri Nagar, Bhatta Basti, Vidyadhar Nagar, Bani Park, Shahpura, etc.).
- Exemptions: The Rajasthan International Centre in Jhalana and its immediately surrounding areas have been exempted from the internet ban.
📱 What is Working and What is Not?
Suspended Services:
- All 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile internet services.
- Bulk SMS and MMS services.
- Social media platforms functioning on mobile data (WhatsApp, Facebook, X, etc.).
Operational Services:
- Standard Voice Calls (Standard telecom calls remain fully active).
- Broadband and Wi-Fi networks (usually unaffected by mobile data suspensions, allowing businesses and home users to remain connected).
🚓 Security Measures and Prohibitory Orders
To ensure the demolition drive proceeds smoothly without any violent outbreaks, the Jaipur Police Commissionerate has implemented massive security protocols:
- Heavy Police Presence: Around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed across sensitive zones in the city.
- No Gatherings: Section 144-like prohibitory orders are in effect. Rallies, processions, demonstrations, public meetings, and mass gatherings of five or more people are strictly prohibited in the city without prior permission. (Note: Wedding processions and funerals are exempted from this rule).
- Cyber Surveillance: Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal has directed the police’s cyber unit to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of social media. The police have warned that immediate legal and punitive action will be taken against anyone caught circulating false information or trying to inflame religious sentiments online.
The administration has urged all citizens of Jaipur to maintain peace, harmony, and strictly comply with the temporary orders while the civic body completes its infrastructure work.