Farmers’ stir: Internet services suspended in select areas of Punjab

Farmers’ stir: Internet services suspended in select areas of Punjab

In view of the farmers’ agitation and march towards New Delhi, internet services have been suspended till February 16 in select areas under some police stations of Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

A senior Punjab government official disclosed that a letter had been issued on January 12 by the MHA ordering suspension of internet services between February 12 and February 16 in certain areas falling under specific police stations in the three districts.

“It appears that the instructions have been based on certain inputs received from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) since a copy of the letter has also been marked to the Director IB,” said the official who did not want to be named.

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The temporary suspension of internet services came into effect from 6 pm on February 12 and will continue till 11.59 pm on February 16.

Internet services have been hit in Patiala district in areas falling under police stations Shatrana, Samana, Ghanour, Devigarh and Balbhera; in Sangrur district in areas under Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli police stations limits; and in Fatehgarh Sahib in areas under Fatehgarh Sahib station.

The orders have been issued under Section 7 of 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.

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