Pressure against Amritpal. suspension of mobile internet services has been extended till Thursday afternoon in some parts of Punjab

Mobile internet services were suspended for three consecutive days till Tuesday afternoon.

The Punjab Home and Justice Department on Tuesday ordered the extension of suspension of mobile internet services in Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga and Sangur districts, Ajnala sub-division and areas adjacent to YPS Chowk and Airport Road in Mohali district.

The order said that all mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services on mobile networks except voice calls will continue to be suspended in the said regions and areas “in the interest of public safety”. to prevent any incitement to violence and to prevent any breach of peace and public order”.

Broadband services are not suspended, the order said, so as not to disrupt banking services, hospital services and other essential services.

“It is clear that in all the remaining areas of the republic, mobile Internet services should function normally from 12:00 today, from 21.03.2023,” the order says.

Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Ajnala sub-division areas of Amritsar Rural Police District are located along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.

As Khalistani sympathizer Amritpal remains at large, the Union Home Ministry has asked the Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to remain alert. According to the officer, a message has been sent to all BSF and SSB units with two pictures of Amritpal, with and without his turban.

“There is a possibility that he may try to cross the India-Nepal border or the International Border in Punjab. They have been asked to be alert and to alert all the personnel stationed at the border posts,” said the officer. All airports and seaports are also alerted.

Asked about the suspension of mobile internet services in the state and how long it could continue, Punjab Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said at a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.[The mobile] In order to maintain public order, the Internet was stopped. This call may be accepted from time to time by exploring [the situation]. For now, it is suspended, later, depending on the situation, the call will be accepted. See, this is done in the hope of maintaining public order. In this regard, many steps are required, and this is one part.

While a manhunt is on to arrest Amritpal, according to police, the stringent National Security Act (NSA) has been applied to five of his arrested aides, including his uncle, who was arrested early Monday morning. The five were sent to Assam and lodged in Dibrugarh Jail.

IG Gill said on Monday that 114 people associated with Waris Punjab De have been detained in six cases registered between February 16 and March 19. These, he said, include the FIR registered on February 24 in connection with the February 23 attack. Ajnalai police station.

Meanwhile, an order by the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Punjab, said that the Punjab DGP has alerted that “some sections of society are protesting at several places in the state and are likely to threaten public order by inciting violence and also applying. widespread violence with intent to incite and cause communal tension, obstruction or injury, danger to life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquillity” which may threaten public safety and public order in Punjab.

“While the Director General of Police Punjab also informed that these sections of the society are widely using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc. and also Short Message Service (SMS) which is inflammatory to disseminate and disseminate materials. fake news, to incite crowd mobilization of agitators and protesters, to mobilize their own manpower and resources for their anti-national activities,” the order reads.

Stating that there is a “clear continuation of threat” to public safety, disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets, etc. due to misuse of mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services, the order said. [DGP] It further stated that there is a need to curb the spread of misinformation and rumors through various social media platforms… on mobile internet services, SMS and other dongle services which may further mobilize mobs of propagandists and protesters who may pose a threat to the public. security, serious loss of life and damage to public and private property through arson or vandalism and other forms of violence”.

Amid the crackdown on Amritpal and his supporters, several users, including some journalists reporting from Punjab, were also hidden “after content analysis”.

Asked about the suspension of the Twitter accounts, Gill declined to comment Monday, saying it was part of a “comprehensive” approach and that he did not have specifics. “I would request the citizens of Punjab not to pay attention to any kind of fake news or rumours, as many people are trying to spread them,” he said.