- Kyle Chua
Indian Authorities Suspend Mobile Internet in Punjab Amid State-Wide Manhunt
Food delivery and cab services, among other internet-reliant businesses, in the Indian state of Punjab have seemingly been turned upside down due to the suspension of mobile internet access.
The ban across Punjab, a state of over 27 million people, comes amid a manhunt to capture Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh, according to the Washington Post. Indian authorities initially implemented a 24-hour ban on most mobile services except voice calls and SMS on Saturday afternoon to counter the spread of "fake news" and prevent any unrest that may arise from Singh's arrest. But the ban was extended for a second day on Sunday, 19 March, marking one of the broadest internet bans in recent years in the country.
Punjab residents who spoke to the Washington Post said the ban had disrupted their lives and businesses, with only essential texts, such as bank confirmation codes, coming in. The ban, however, only covers mobile services and doesn't affect wired internet.
"My entire business is dependent on internet," said Mohammad Ibrahim, a clothing store owner who accepts QR code-based payments. "Since yesterday, I’ve felt crippled." The Hindustan Times, meanwhile, reported that there were barely any food delivery riders in the streets of Punjab on late Saturday and Sunday, a stark contrast to a normal weekend where several of them can be easily spotted. Many also scrambled to withdraw cash from ATM terminals as online payment services weren't accessible.
Indian authorities have drawn flak for such bans in the past. In August 2019, the Indian government cut internet access in Kashmir for 19 months after protests erupted over the region's semi-autonomous status being revoked. The Indian government has also ordered more internet shutdowns than any other government in the world, according to data from Access Now, a New York-based advocacy group. And Indian judges have defended the bans, arguing that law enforcement can implement measures proportional to the threat to public safety.
But Prasanth Sugathan, a legal director at the Indian nonprofit Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), said the bans are not proportional. "The government is pushing for all services being available online," he told the Washington Post. "If you talk about ‘Digital India,’ then you can’t have this happening."
Amritpal Singh, the wanted fugitive, is a prominent figure in the separatist movement that wants to establish Punjab as a sovereign state called Khalistan for followers of the Sikh religion. His Khalistan movement is reportedly outlawed in India but has sympathisers across Punjab due to the majority following Sikhism.
Indian authorities have suspended mobile internet access in Punjab amid a manhunt to capture Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh.
Indian authorities shut down most mobile services except voice calls and SMS over the weekend to counter the spread of "fake news" and prevent any unrest that may arise from Singh's arrest.
Punjab residents said the ban had disrupted their lives and businesses, with only essential texts, such as bank confirmation codes, coming in.