New Delhi: The Bhagwant Mann-led government on Monday (March 20, 2023) again extended the suspension on all mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services in Punjab as the police continued its manhunt to nab ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh. An official order from the Punjab government said that mobile internet services will remain suspended in Punjab till 12 pm on March 21.
The state authorities had first suspended the internet and SMS services on Saturday till Sunday noon, which was then extended till Monday 12 pm.
The broadband services are not being suspended so that banking facilities, hospital services and other essential services are not disrupted, the official order read.
A manhunt is currently on to nab radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh.
Punjab Police is acting within the law.#AmritpalSingh is still absconding and not yet arrested.
Don’t believe the rumours and false news.
Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony & not panic. pic.twitter.com/BdHRAeVEit
— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) March 19, 2023
Mobile Internet In Punjab Was Suspended After Crackdown Against Amritpal Singh
The Punjab government had on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and arrested 78 members of his group, Waris Punjab De, header by him. The pro-Khalistan leader, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district.
As the operation went underway, authorities stepped up security at several places and suspended internet and SMS services in the state.
Security has been tightened at many places in Punjab with intensive vehicle checking.
Earlier last month, Amritpal Singh and his supporters — some of them brandishing swords and guns — broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, clashing with police for the release of one of Amritpal’s aides.
After the incident, in which six policemen including a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered injuries, the Mann-led government in the state had faced severe flak and was accused of kowtowing to extremists.
Dubai-returned Amritpal Singh was last year anointed the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.
Amritpal Singh’s Uncle, Driver Surrender In Jalandhar
Earlier in the day, police informed that Amritpal Singh’s uncle and driver have surrendered before them in Jalandhar.
Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered near a gurdwara in the Mehatpur area late Sunday night, Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Swarandeep Singh said.
The Khalistan sympathiser, however, was still on the run, he said.
‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh’s uncle and driver surrendered before the Punjab police last night
Visuals from Nakodar police station in Jalandhar district. pic.twitter.com/ldNyiGs04C
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2023
Police on Sunday also conducted flag marches and searches across Punjab in their manhunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh, arresting 34 more supporters and shifting four men in custody to jail in far-off Assam.
A flag march was taken out to ensure peace, mutual brotherhood and law and order in the district by Malerkotla Police and appealed to the public not to believe any kind 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 maintain the law and order situation in the district and to prevent any untoward incident.#SafePunjab #YourSafetyIsOurPriority pic.twitter.com/B1VvJbjN38
— Patiala Police (@PatialaPolice) March 19, 2023
(With agency inputs)