New Delhi: The Bhagwant Mann-led authorities on Monday (March 20, 2023) once more prolonged the suspension on all cell web, SMS, and dongle providers in Punjab because the police continued its manhunt to nab ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh. An official order from the Punjab authorities stated that cell web providers will stay suspended in Punjab until 12 pm on March 21. The state authorities had first suspended the web and SMS providers on Saturday until Sunday midday, which was then prolonged until Monday 12 pm.
“Director General of Police, Punjab has brought to my notice that certain sections of society are holding protests at several places in the State and are likely to threaten public order by incitement to violence as also resorting to widespread violence with an aim to stoke and cause communal tension, obstruction or injury to persons, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquillity thereby threatening public safety and public order in the State of Punjab,” the order by Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, Home Department, learn.
The official stated that the Punjab DGP has delivered to his discover that these “sections of society” extensively use social media platforms corresponding to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and so on, and in addition Short Message Service (SMS) for spreading “inflammatory material” and “false rumours”, to impress mobilization of mobs of agitators and demonstrators, mobilize their very own manpower and assets for his or her “anti-national activities”.
“There is a clear continuation of the potential of threat to public safety, disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities, and disturbance of public law and order in the State of Punjab on account of misuse of mobile internet services, SMS services, and other dongle services,” the Additional Chief Secretary added.
“Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred on me, it is directed that all mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), all SMS services (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice calls, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be further suspended from 20/03/2023 (1200 hrs) to 21/03/2023 (1200 hrs),” the order stated.
It stated that the step has been taken within the curiosity of public security, to stop any incitement to violence, and to stop any disturbance of peace and public order.
The broadband providers will not be being suspended in order that banking amenities, hospital providers, and different important providers will not be disrupted, the official order learn.
A manhunt is at the moment on to nab radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh.
Punjab Police is appearing inside the legislation.#AmritpalSingh remains to be absconding and never but arrested.
Don’t consider the rumours and false information.
Request all residents to keep up peace & concord & not panic. pic.twitter.com/BdHRAeVEit
— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) March 19, 2023
Internet In Punjab Was Suspended Amid Crackdown Against Amritpal Singh
The Punjab authorities had on Saturday launched a serious crackdown towards Amritpal Singh, who escaped the police’s dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted within the Jalandhar district.
As the operation went underway, authorities suspended web and SMS providers within the state.
Since then, safety has been tightened at many locations in Punjab with intensive automobile checking.
Cops on Sunday additionally carried out flag marches and searches throughout Punjab of their manhunt for Amritpal Singh, arresting 34 extra supporters and shifting 4 males in custody to jail in far-off Assam.
A flag march was taken out to make sure peace, mutual brotherhood and legislation and order within the district by Malerkotla Police and appealed to the general public to not consider any type of rumours.#YourSafetyOurPriority #FlagMarch pic.twitter.com/DWqRwYnsZO
— Malerkotla Police (@MalerkotlaPol) March 19, 2023
A flag march was taken out by the Patiala Police to keep up the legislation and order state of affairs within the district and to stop any untoward incident.#SafePunjab #YourSafetyIsOurPriority pic.twitter.com/B1VvJbjN38
— Patiala Police (@PatialaPolice) March 19, 2023
Amritpal Singh’s Uncle, Driver Surrender In Jalandhar
Earlier within the day, police knowledgeable that Amritpal Singh’s uncle and driver have surrendered earlier than them in Jalandhar.
Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered close to a gurdwara within the Mehatpur space late Sunday night time, Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Swarandeep Singh stated.
The Khalistan sympathiser, nevertheless, was nonetheless on the run, he stated.
‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh’s uncle and driver surrendered earlier than the Punjab police final night time
Visuals from Nakodar police station in Jalandhar district. pic.twitter.com/ldNyiGs04C
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2023
Earlier final month, Amritpal Singh and his supporters — a few of them brandishing swords and weapons — broke by means of barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar metropolis, clashing with police for the discharge of certainly one of Amritpal’s aides.
After the incident, by which six policemen together with a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered accidents, the Mann-led authorities within the state had confronted extreme flak and was accused of kowtowing to extremists.
Dubai-returned Amritpal Singh was final yr anointed the pinnacle of ‘Waris Punjab De’, which was based by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a highway accident in February final yr.
