Lagatar24 Desk
Chandigarh, March 18: Internet services have been suspended in several districts of Punjab until 12 noon on Sunday, State police said today after they launched an operation to arrest chief of suspected pro-Khalistan outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’, Amritpal Singh.
Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh leader and member of the Khalistani movement, has been active in Punjab for the past several weeks after his supporters fought with police last month outside of Amritsar’s Ajnala police station, demanding the release of one of Amritpal’s aides.
#UPDATE | Mobile internet services restricted in several districts of Punjab as the State Police launches action against Khalistani sympathiser ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh and his aides.
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2023
According to news source PTI, Amritpal’s six assistants were allegedly seized on Saturday in Jalandhar. Some “Waris Punjab De” chief followers posted several videos on social media with the premise that police were pursuing them. Amritpal may be heard on a video indicating that police were chasing him while he was seated in a car with one of his assistants, according to PTI. According to officials, Punjab’s internet services would not resume till Sunday.
The Punjab Police advised citizens to uphold peace and harmony and not propagate fear, false information, or hate speech as the Internet was shut down.
“Punjab Police is working to maintain law and order,” the Punjab Police tweeted. “All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be suspended from 18th March (12:00 hours) to 19th March (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety,” the government said.
