Not just Jantar Mantar, mobile internet blocked at eight stadium-turned-detention centres across Delhi on Oct 10

It was not only areas around Jantar Mantar, but the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered the suspension of mobile internet services within a 500-metre radius at eight other locations — makeshift detention centres — in Delhi for ten hours on October 10, citing concerns over public safety, public order and the need to prevent incitement to offences.

Delhi Police had converted multiple sports complexes and community centres across the city into temporary holding facilities as part of arrangements to prevent protesters from assembling at Jantar Mantar. Around 2500 protestors were detained from various locations and sent to the detention centres from where they were released later in the day.

According to an order issued by the Ministry on October 9, the suspension was enforced from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday (October 10, 2026) under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. The order was issued by the Union Home Secretary, who stated that the step was necessary “in the interest of public safety and averting public emergency” and to maintain public order.

The restrictions covered areas surrounding eight facilities identified in the order: Chhatrasaal Stadium, Model Town; Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Bawana; Yamuna Sports Complex; Jasola Sports Complex; Community Centre, Daulatpur; Community Centre, Pandwala Khurd; Jangli Ram Stadium, Nizampur; Kanjhawala; Surajmal Stadium, Nangloi.

The venues, mostly stadiums and sporting facilities were being used by Delhi Police as temporary detention centres amid heightened security arrangements in the Capital ahead of the proposed protest seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The MHA order specified that all mobile internet technologies would remain suspended within a 500-metre radius of the designated locations between noon and 10 p.m. on October 10. The order was addressed to Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police for implementation.