The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a top secret order on October 9 directing telecom providers to suspend mobile internet services within a 4-km radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing in New Delhi. The shutdown will last from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10, affecting Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and MTNL users in the area, according to a notice obtained by ANI and reported by MediaNama.
The order targets the area near the designated protest site declared by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which plans a demonstration on October 10 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in the SIR process. Delhi Police denied permission for the protest, citing the requirement to apply 10 days in advance. The MHA notice does not specify the reasons for the internet suspension or the rationale for the 4-km radius.
This internet shutdown expands the restricted area by approximately 2.5 times compared to a previous 1.5-km radius suspension imposed on October 2. The suspension begins on the same day the order was issued, impacting residents, businesses, and journalists operating within the affected zone. The MHA has not officially released the order publicly, but the notice was shared by ANI and covered by MediaNama.
The suspension covers the 4-km radius around Janpath–Kartavya Path from 10 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10, marking a significant restriction on mobile internet access in central New Delhi during the planned protest.