On 2 October 2025, Gaurav Dayal, Secretary of the Home Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, issued a notification ordering a 48-hour suspension of internet services in Bareilly district. The directive was justified as a preventive measure to maintain public order during the Dussehra festivities. The decision came amid heightened security arrangements across the district. Police carried out drone surveillance, flag marches, and strict monitoring to avert communal tensions or law-and-order disturbances. The vigilance followed violent incidents reported in Bareilly on 26 September, when protests erupted after an Islamic scholar announced demonstrations over alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet — a controversy that had also flared up in Shahjahanpur following the “I Love Muhammad” posters episode.

An internet shutdown refers to the deliberate disruption of internet or electronic communication services, rendering them inaccessible for a specific population or area. Governments often invoke such measures during emergencies or perceived threats to public order, arguing that temporary communication restrictions help prevent the spread of rumours and escalation of violence.........

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