Internet blocked after clashes in Punjab's Patiala
A day after Patiala witnessed clashes between two groups during an anti-Khalistan march, mobile internet and SMS services were blocked in the city to prevent rumor-mongering.
All mobile internet and SMS services, except voice calls, will remain suspended in the district from 9:30 am till 6 pm, officials said.
"Mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA), all SMS services and all dongle services etc provided on mobile networks except voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of the District of Patiala from 9:30 am to 6 pm on 30th April 2022.All Telecom Services providers in the State of Punjab and Head of BSNL (Punjab Jurisdiction) are hereby directed to ensure compliance of this order," read the state government release.
Clashes broke out outside the Kali Mata temple when members of a Hindutva outfit that calls itself Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) began a 'Khalistan Murdabad March'.
Members of the two groups also waved swords and threw stones at each other.
Four people were injured during the clashes.
Top cops transferred
A day after the clashes, the Punjab government took strict action against the state police, removing three top officers from their post over their failure to control the violence.
The inspector general of police (Patiala Range), the Patiala senior superintendent of police and the superintendent of police were transferred from the posts.
