Mobile internet restored in most parts of Punjab

As most of Punjab emerges from India’s 700th recorded internet shutdown, some ask why all citizens should suffer because of the crimes of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who is still evading arrest

Patiala residents intently checking their phones shortly before Internet curbs were lifted in Punjab on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

Punjab’s government lifted the mobile internet shutdown imposed in the State on Tuesday afternoon, even as police continue to pursue pro-Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, who has so far evaded arrest. Telecom operators reinstated internet connectivity to their subscribers in the State over an hour after the internet suspension order extending restrictions till Tuesday noon had elapsed. This was India’s 700th recorded internet shutdown, according to the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC)’s Internet Shutdowns Tracker.

Restrictions will remain in place, however, in the districts of Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Sangrur; as well as in Amritsar’s Ajnala Sub-Division and in the areas adjoining YPS Chowk and the Airport Road in the Mohali district, according to an order by Punjab’s Home Department. Security remained high at entry points to the State, with dozens of police officers stationed at the Ambala–Patiala crossing to check vehicles passing through.

Business impact

Due to the mobile internet shutdown, businesses faced difficulties accepting digital payments, which hit their income over the weekend. “This is an industrial area with a lot of bulk cash transactions, so ATMs ran dry quickly,” said Sanju, a shopkeeper in Rajpura’s Shambhoo Khurd district. So even though ATMs were working, Mr. Sanju said, people who usually paid digitally couldn’t withdraw cash or pay. Residents were seen outdoors checking for connectivity shortly after the lapsing of the order.

Other aspects of business and daily life went about as usual, as authorities did not restrict wired internet connections or SMS messages related to banking. This is in contrast with the months-long communications blackout in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, where all digital communications were restricted for 552 days.