Internet Services Suspended in Central Delhi
The Delhi Police announced the temporary suspension of internet and mobile internet services in a 4 km radius from the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing starting Friday evening, October 9. The 24-hour curbs were implemented to remain in effect until 10 pm on Saturday, October 10.
The suspension was enforced under sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, read with Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The measure followed approval from the Union Home Secretary.
Manishi Chandra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell (HQ), wrote to telecom nodal officers to enforce the curbs after seeking permission from the Union Home Ministry.
Metro Stations Closed and Security Deployed
In conjunction with the internet shutdown, 57 Delhi Metro stations were closed starting at 9 pm on Friday. The affected stations included Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Lok Kalyan Marg, Supreme Court, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, ITO, Delhi Gate, Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin, Lajpat Nagar, Jangpura, Vishwavidyalaya, Civil Lines, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Ashram, Rohini West, Welcome, Shalimar Bagh, Adarsh Nagar, and Hauz Khas.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Railways B Bharat Reddy stated that 334 Government Railway Police personnel and 14 companies of Central Armed Police Forces were deployed round-the-clock at major railway stations. This deployment aimed to manage protesters arriving by train for the demonstration scheduled for October 10.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was also in force in New Delhi to impose preventive restrictions for public order and safety.
Police Deny Permission for CJP Demonstration
The Delhi Police maintained that permission for the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar was denied. Authorities cited the organizers’ failure to comply with legal directions and their own undertakings from an earlier protest as the basis for the refusal.