New Delhi: As Punjab Police continued to look for pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh for the fourth day running on Tuesday, March 21 – earning a rebuke from a high court – the extension of internet shutdowns across the state has hit normal life severely, with The Tribune calling the past three days a “nightmare.”
Court’s rebuke
The Punjab and Haryana high court has meanwhile given a stern talking to to the Punjab police, asking them for a status report and why they have failed to catch him in spite of a 80,000-strong force.
“You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing. How did Amritpal Singh escape?,” the court asked.
Internet shutdown
As The Wire reported early this morning, the internet shutdown in Punjab, ordered by the state government on Saturday, has been extended multiple times from its initial 24-hour run and will remain until noon today.
Along with social media accounts of alleged Khalistan supporters, several journalists’ accounts have also been suspended.
NSA against associates, uncle
Meanwhile, The Tribune has it that Punjab Police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against five of Amritpal’s associates, including his uncle Harjit Singh. On Monday, Harjit and his driver Harpreet Singh surrendered near a gurdwara at Bullandpur near Mehatpur in Jalandhar.
Cops seized a firearm and Rs 1 lakh from the two.
Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill has said that 114 people have been detained against six FIRs so far as Amritpal continues to evade arrest.
VIDEO | "Amritpal Singh is still on the run, police teams are making all the efforts to nab him. 114 people have been taken into custody so far," says Sukhchain Singh Gill, Punjab Inspector General of Police. pic.twitter.com/rdtD9QAWAX
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 20, 2023
In all, seven associates of Amritpal have been shifted to Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam.
The top cop, according to PTI, said that things in Punjab were ‘normal’.
However, food delivery, cab services and office work has been hit across Punjab in the face of the fourth day of internet shutdowns.
Note: This article is being updated and republished as new information comes in.