Farmers' protests: Internet services suspended for two days at Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has temporarily suspended internet services at the Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders, where farmers have been protesting against the new agri laws, an official said on Saturday. Apart from the three borders of Delhi, internet services will remain suspended in their adjoining areas too effective from 11 pm of 29 January to 11 pm of 31 January, the official said. The decision has been taken to “maintain public safety and averting public emergency” under Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, the official said. On 26 January, when large scale violence was reported during the farmers’ tractor rally, internet services were temporary suspended in some parts of Delhi. The Haryana government had on Friday suspended mobile internet services in 17 districts till 5 pm. Lakhs of farmers across India have spent the last several weeks demanding the Centre to repeal farm reforms they say will leave them at the mercy of large corporate firms. The tense situation exploded on Republic Day when groups of farmers and others clashed with police during a tractor rally that turned violent. Police had to resort to firing tear gas and lathi charges to control the situation. One farmer died and hundreds of cops were injured.