Internet likely to resume partially in Punjab as manhunt for Amritpal enters 4th day

As Punjab Police continued to look for pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh for the fourth day running on Tuesday, mobile internet services are likely to resume partially in the state. However, internet restrictions will continue in Tarn Taran, Ferozpur, Moga, Sangrur, Ajanala in Amritsar, and YPS Chawk in Amritsar.

The curbs will be lifted from the rest of the state from Tuesday noon, the department of home affairs and justice said in an order.

"... 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 continue to remain suspended from March 21 (12.00 hours) to March 23 (12.00 hours) only in the districts Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, sub-division Ajnala in Amritsar, areas adjoining YPS chowk and airport road, both in SAS Nagar in continuation of this office order no 1781 dated March 20 in the interest of public safety, to prevent any incitement to violence and to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order," it read.

The order clarified that mobile internet services in all the remaining areas of the state should start functioning normally from 12 noon on March 21.

The Punjab Police on Monday flagged a possible "ISI angle" as it invoked the stringent National Security Act against five men linked to radical preacher Amritpal Singh, whose uncle and driver surrendered amid a state-wide crackdown against his "Waris Punjab De" group.

On Sunday, four arrested members of the outfit were brought to Assam's Dibrugarh central jail. A team of Punjab Police has now reached the jail with pro-Khalistani leader Harjeet Singh to quiz Singh's aides.

Two more aides of Amritpal Singh, Kulwant Singh, and Gur Aujla, have been slapped with NSA charges.