Centre extends internet suspension in select areas of Punjab till Feb 24, more regions hit

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had taken exception to the Centre issuing orders for internet suspension in Punjab and had said that he had taken up the matter and sought to revoke the suspension. However, with the new orders including more districts under its ambit, the chief minister’s protests appear to have been ignored.

The new orders have also been issued in exercise of the power conferred by section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Sub-rule 1 of Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, and in the interest of maintaining public safety and averting public emergency.

In Patiala district, areas falling under police stations Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, S Shatrana, Samana, Ghanour, Devigarh and Balbhera will be affected.

Areas under Lalru police station will be affected in SAS Nagar district and under Sangat police station in Bathinda district. Killianwali police station area will be affected in Sri Muktsar Sahib district while in Mansa it will cover Sardulgarh and Boha police stations.

In Sangrur district, it will affect areas falling under Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunamand Chajli police stations, while in Fatehgarh Sahib district it will impact the Fatehgarh Sahib police station limits.