Haryana government has temporarily suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Ambala district until December 9 midnight. The step has been taken in the wake of a proposed march by farmers to Delhi from Punjab's Shambhu border through Haryana.
On Friday, officials said the suspension is aimed at maintaining peace and public order in the region.
Over 100 farmers are marching towards the national capital, demanding legal guarantees for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops, debt waivers, pensions for farmers and agricultural laborers, and reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act.
The Haryana Police have fortified the Ambala-Delhi border with multilayered barricades at the Shambhu border on National Highway 44 and have also deployed water cannons to prevent disruptions.
The Ambala administration has implemented Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning the gathering of five or more persons in the district.
The administration has closed all government and private schools in the district.
Ambala Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said: "We have made adequate security arrangements. We have appealed to the farmers to maintain law and order. They have been told to take permission from Delhi police for their march. We will let them move only after getting required permissions.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher highlighted that the protest has reached its 297th day, with an indefinite hunger strike.“The protest has entered its 297th day and the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border has entered its 11th day. At 1 pm, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers will move towards Delhi from the Shambhu Border,” farmer leader Pandher said.
Earlier attempts by farmers to march towards Delhi on February 13 and 21 were halted due to strong security at the Punjab-Haryana border. Since then, farmers under the aegis of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been holding protests at these border points.
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