Punjab Government Extends Suspention of Mobile Internet, SMS Services Till Tuesday Noon

The Punjab government extended the suspension of mobile Internet and SMS services till Tuesday noon even as the hunt for alleged Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh continued for the third day.

The state authorities had on Saturday suspended the Internet and SMS services in the state till Sunday noon.

Later, the curbs were extended till Monday noon.

According to the latest order of the Home Affairs department and Justice on Monday, “….it is directed that all mobile Internet services (2G/3G/45/5G/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 March 20 (12.00 hours) to March 21 (12.00 hours) in the interest of public safety, to prevent any incitement to violence and to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order.”

Broadband services are not being suspended so that banking facilities, hospital services and other essential services are not disrupted, said the order issued by the additional chief secretary of the home department.

Punjab government on Sunday had suspended mobile Internet and SMS services in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab till March 20 (12:00 hours) after arresting Daljeet Singh Kalsi, alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi, an alleged advisor and financer of Amritpal Singh.

Punjab Police on Saturday launched a massive crackdown against the 'Waris De Punjab' chief.

In the early hours of Sunday, police personnel were deployed outside Amritpal Singh's residence in Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, and security was enhanced across the state as the Khalistani sympathiser outfit chief is currently on the run, as per the police.

On Saturday late evening, Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal confirmed that the radical leader had been declared a "fugitive".