The Punjab government lifted the restrictions in Moga, Sangrur, the Ajnala subdivision in Amritsar, and a few locations in Mohali on Thursday while extending the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in the Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts till Friday noon.
On March 21, mobile internet access was restored to the whole of Punjab.
In Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, mobile internet restrictions have been increased “in the interest of public safety, to prevent any incitement to violence and to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order,” according to a Thursday order from the state home affairs department and justice. “It is directed that all mobile internet services, all SMS services (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, other than voice calls, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall continue to remain suspended from March 23 (1200 hours) to March 24 (1200 hours) only in the districts Tarn Taran and Ferozepur,” it said.
According to the ruling, broadband connections were not halted to prevent disruptions to financial operations, medical services, and other crucial services.
After the police crackdown on members of the extreme preaching group “Waris Punjab De,” led by Amritpal Singh, the Punjab authorities last week shut down Internet and SMS services in the state. But, when the authorities caught up with the elusive preacher’s cavalcade in the Jalandhar area, he managed to escape their trap.
Police have said that they are working to find the fugitive as the Khalistan sympathizer is still unaccounted for.
