Punjab Govt extends suspension of mobile internet services in 4 districts till today

Punjab Government on Sunday decided to extend the suspension of mobile internet services in four districts till Monday in the wake of violent clashed in Phagwara, even as the police arrested four leaders of various Hindu outfits in the matter.

The temporary suspension of mobile internet services in four districts of Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and SBS Nagar has been extended till April 16 with immediate effect “to maintain peace and harmony in the wake of a violent clash between two communities in Phagwara”.

“The order was issued for temporarily suspension of mobile internet services, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and CDMA, all SMS services as well as all dongle services except voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of four districts “as a precautionary measure”, said an official spokesperson.

Spokesperson said that all telecom services providers in the state of Punjab and head of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Punjab jurisdiction, are directed to ensure compliance of the order.

Any person found guilty for violation of aforesaid order, would be liable for legal action, said the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested four leaders — including Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) state vice-president Inderjit Karwal, Shiv Sena national president Shivi Batta, Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha leader Rajiv Chahal and Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti’s state president Deepak Bhardwaj — in connection with the violent clashes took place in Phagwara on Friday over renaming of a chowk.

They were arrested from their respective houses on Sunday morning, the police said, adding that they were presented before a magistrate who sent them to judicial custody for 14 days.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab and SSP Sandeep Sharma also met members of the groups, pleading them to maintain peace.

Two days after the violent clashes between right-wing Hindu groups and Dalits left six people wounded, Phagwara remained tense on Sunday too.

The police has also cancelled arms licenses issued to all arrested Hindu leaders. Liquor vends too remained closed as a precautionary measure.

Heavy security force continued to be deployed in the area, with 1,700 additional policemen, including the Rapid Action Force and riot police — continue to be stationed at Phagwara.

Police booked 300 people in three different cases over Friday’s violent clashes on Saturday in a damage control measure.

Clashes erupted when some Hindu leaders objected to installing a flex board bearing a photo of Dr BR Ambedkar and renaming ‘Goal Chowk’ as ‘Sambhidhan Chowk’ on Friday night.

Punjab Shiv Sena vice-president, Rajesh Palta, was allegedly attacked by a group of unidentified people near Balmiki Chowk a day after the clash on Saturday morning.