Haryana suspends internet, SMS services in Mahendergarh amid Agnipath scheme protests

Agnipath protests: As per the Haryana government order, the restrictions will be enforced in the Mahendergarh district for the next 24 hours with immediate effect i.e. till 16:30 hours (tomorrow).

Pic Courtesy: PTI (Indian Army aspirants block traffic movement at Bilaspur Chowk area in Gurugram on Thursday)

New Delhi: The Haryana government on Friday (June 17) ordered the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Mahendergarh district in the wake of protests against the Centre’s Agnipath recruitment scheme, ANI reported. As per the order, the restrictions will be enforced in Mahendergarh district for the next 24 hours with immediate effect i.e. till 16:30 hours on Saturday in view of potential law and order situation.

Haryana govt orders suspension of mobile internet services, all SMS services in view of potential law and order situation in the wake of new army recruitment policy. Order shall be in force for next 24 hours with immediate effect i.e. till 16:30 hours (tomorrow) pic.twitter.com/eoMsa9HQgx

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022

The step comes as the protestors hit the street for the second consecutive day in Haryana. Demonstrations were held at Hero Honda Chowk in the Narnaul of Haryana’s Mahendragarh district on Friday, with the Police in Narnaul detaining a few and chasing away others. 

The protests turned violent as several agitators vandalised the police barricades in Narnaul. Following this, Section 144, restricting the gathering of more than four persons, was imposed in the area. 

Earlier on Thursday, the state government had enforced the prohibitory orders in Palwal and suspended internet services in Faridabad district's Ballabgarh.

Meanwhile, protests across several states turned violent with hundreds of demonstrators setting a train on fire in Hyderabad’s Secunderabad railway station. So far, more than 200 trains have been affected due to the protests against the Agnipath scheme, the Railways said today. Protestors are demanding the government withdraw the Agnipath recruitment scheme. The Central government’s Agnipath scheme aims to recruit soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force mainly on a four-year short-term contractual basis. 

The Central government has defended the "transformative" scheme and released a document on Thursday to dispel people's concerns about the Agnipath recruitment Yojana. 

(With agency inputs)