3 min readSuratSep 19, 2015 07:56 PM IST
First published on: Sep 19, 2015 at 10:27 AM IST
Patidaar Anamat Anandolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel with supporters (PTI Photo)
Following detention of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel and his associates by Surat police, authorities of Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot have issued notifications suspending mobile internet services in the four cities to preempt any untoward incident owing to rumour mongering.
Hardik and around 19 of his associates were detained by Surat police in Varachha area of the city on Saturday morning after they tried to carry out their Ekta Yatra sans police permission. All of them were taken to police headquarters in Surat.
Gujarat Police does not seem to be taking chances with the law and order situation and immediately instructed concerned authorities across the state to take a decision on imposing ban on mobile internet services as per the situation in their respective jurisdictional areas. It is also noteworthy that Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel is in Surat district to attend a public function.
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Gujarat DGP P C Thakur said, “There is no blanket ban on mobile internet in the State. All the Police Commissioners and offices of district Superintendents of Police have been asked to take a decision on banning mobile internet service depending upon the circumstances in their respective jurisdictions.”
Watch video: Why Are We Talking About Hardik Patel: Beyond The News
Accordingly, police authorities have imposed a ban on mobile internet services in all four major cities of Gujarat – Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot. While the ban was imposed in Surat early in the day itself, immediately after dentention of Hardik, authorities of other three cities imposed the ban by afternoon.
Ahmedabad Commissioner Shivanand Jha issued a notification and banned the services till Sunday afternoon. It is likely to be reviewed thereafter.
Vadodara Police Commissioner E Radhakrishana said, “The notification has been issued to ban mobile internet and 2G & 3G services indefinitely. We will review situation tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, in Rajkot, the service has been suspended for a week. Rajkot police commissioner Mohan Jha said, “We have banned mobile internet service in Rajkot for a week. But, the ban can be lifted early also depending upon the situation.”
Meanwhile, the situation has remained tense in Surat after Hardik and his associates’ detention. Almost all the diamond trading markets in the city have been shut down whereas, police have also got extra deployment of paramilitary forces to meet with any situation of law and order.
Hardik and his associates had surfaced in Varachha area of Surat, on Saturday morning, while ending suspense over the place from where they would begin their ‘Ekta Yatra’. Soon, they were detained by police as the rally was being taken out sans police permission.
Patidaar Anamat Anandolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel with supporters (PTI Photo)
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