Bareilly, UP, Oct 3– The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday suspended internet services in Bareilly district for 48 hours and put the region on high alert following recent unrest over the ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster row.
According to a notification by Home Secretary Gaurav Dayal, mobile internet, broadband, and SMS services will remain suspended from 3 pm on October 2 to 3 pm on October 4. The order stated that the step was necessary to prevent misuse of social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp to spread rumours and incite communal violence.
Heavy security arrangements were put in place across four districts of Bareilly division, with police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed on the streets. Drones were also pressed into service for aerial surveillance in view of Dussehra.
The action comes days after clashes broke out on September 26, when nearly 2,000 people gathered outside a mosque in the Kotwali area after Friday prayers. The protest, called by cleric Tauqeer Khan, was cancelled, triggering confrontation with the police and incidents of stone-pelting.
Officials said the precautionary measures are aimed at maintaining peace and public order amid heightened communal sensitivities.
