Mobile internet services suspended for 24 hrs in 4 districts of Punjab

Mobile internet and SMS services were suspended for 24 hours in four districts of Punjab following arrest of four people in connection with a clash between members of a Dalit outfit and Hindu groups, an official spokesperson said.

Mobile internet services, including 2G, 3G, 4G, CDMA and GPRS, all SMS services and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, in Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and SBS Nagar shall remain suspended till April 16, he said.

The spokesperson further said that all telecom services providers in the state of Punjab and head of BSNL (Punjab Jurisdiction) are directed to ensure compliance of this order.

Any person found guilty for violation of aforesaid order, would be liable for legal action, he said.

Meanwhile, four people were arrested today in connection with the violent clashes that took place on April 13 over over the installation of a board and renaming of a "chowk" (intersection) in Phagwara.

Inderjit Karwal, the state vice-president of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), Deepak Bhardwaj, Punjab unit president of Hindu Suraksha Samiti, Shivi Batta, president of another Shiv Sena outfit and one Raju Chahal, police said.

They were arrested from their respective houses this morning, the police said, adding that they were presented before a magistrate who sent them to judicial custody.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab and SSP Sandeep Sharma also met members of the groups, pleading them to maintain peace.

Heavy security force continued to be deployed in the area, the police said.

Liquor vends remained closed here today as a precautionary measure.

The incident took place when members of a group allegedly installed a board carrying a picture of B R Ambedkar at Gol Chowk here on National Highway (NH)-1.

They also tried to rename it Savidhan Chowk. However, members of another group objected to it and that led to a clash between them, the police said.