The internet shutdown at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest site entered its second day on July 22, following the third day of protests after Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike. Telecom companies cut off internet access at the site from 8:30 pm on July 21, while connectivity remained available outside the immediate protest area, according to medianama.com.
The shutdown was confirmed by MediaNama's reporter through individuals present at the protest site, and further verified by a subeditor near Patel Chowk, about 700 meters from Jantar Mantar. Neither the government nor telecom operators have publicly disclosed the order for the internet block. On July 20, internet access was blocked around 10:45 am and restored around 10 pm, but the duration of the current shutdown remains unknown.
The internet disruption has affected local services, with food delivery and quick-commerce platforms such as Zomato, Blinkit, Swiggy, Instamart, and Zepto halting deliveries to the protest site. The protests have turned violent, involving clashes between demonstrators and security forces, with allegations of excessive force by Delhi Police and the Railway Protection Force, adding to the tense atmosphere at the site.
The ongoing internet shutdown at Jantar Mantar reflects the authorities' approach to managing the protests, with no official communication on the duration of the block. The next update on connectivity status is awaited from either government sources or telecom operators, as the situation continues to evolve.