A day after Patiala witnessed clashes between two groups during an anti-Khalistan march that left four people injured, the Punjab government today took strict action against the state police, removing three top officers in the department over their failure to control the violence in the district.
The Patiala Range IG, Patiala SSP and SP have been transferred from the post following orders from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is reportedly upset about the police response to the violence, sources told NDTV.
A curfew is already in place in the city from 7pm today till 6 am today.
Mobile internet and SMS services, except voice calls, were also suspended in the district from 9:30 am and will remain blocked till 6 pm today.
"Mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA), all SMS services and (iii) 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. All telecom services providers in Punjab and head of BSNL (Punjab jurisdiction) are hereby directed to ensure compliance of the order," said the state government release.
Clashes broke out outside the Kali Mata temple when members of an 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.
Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) leader Harish Singla was arrested after a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mr Mann called the incident unfortunate and vowed his government would not let anyone create disturbance in the state.
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