New Delhi: A day after clashes broke out between two groups over an “anti-Khalistani march” in Patiala, the Punjab government on Saturday morning suspended mobile internet and SMS services in the district and transferred three top cops with immediate effect over their alleged failure to maintain law-and-order.Heavy police security has been deployed at the site of the clashes outside the Kali Mata temple in Patiala, while various Hindu outfits have given a call for a bandh. Police and district administration authorities claim that the situation is under control and peaceful in the city. A curfew that was imposed in the city at 7 pm on Friday was lifted at 6 am on Saturday.The order to suspend mobile internet and SMS services, except voice call, was issued by the state’s home affairs and justice department. Officials said the decision was taken to stop “the spread of misinformation and rumours, through various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter on mobile phones and SMS”.The order was issued based on a report by Patiala’s deputy commissioner and SSP who hinted at a developing situation where “data services could be grossly misused by certain unscrupulous elements”.Also read: Patiala: Two Groups Clash at March Against ‘Pro-Khalistan’ Activists“In exercise of the power conferred upon me by virtue of temporary suspension of telecom services (public emergency or public safety) rules, 2017, I, Anurag Verma, principal secretary, home affairs and justice, do here by order suspension of the mobile internet services (2G/3G/45/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 April 30,” said the government order.Taking a serious view of the emerging situation in Patiala, the Bhagwant Mann government has also transferred the inspector general of police (IG) Patiala Range, the Patiala senior superintendent of police and the superintendent of police with immediate effect.According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, Mukhwinder Singh Chinna has been appointed as the new IG-Patiala while Deepak Parik will be the new Patiala SSP. Wazir Singh has been appointed as the new superintendent of police of Patiala.Chinna replaces Rakesh Agrawal as IG (Patiala Range) while Parik takes over the post of SSP-Patiala from Nanak Singh.Speaking to the media, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the situation was calm and peaceful.“We have deployed force here. The situation is peaceful right now and the situation is under control. We are constantly monitoring the situation,” Sawhney said.“Peace and calm should be maintained. The situation is under control. Mobile internet services are temporarily suspended today to stop rumour-mongering. FIRs filed in three instances. On the basis of evidence gathered from video footage action will be taken,” she said, according to NDTV.Inspector General (Patiala Range) Rakesh Agrawal, who has now been transferred, said two FIRs were been lodged in the matter and Harish Singla, working president of a group called Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) was arrested.On Friday, members of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) led by Harish Singla, who had called a march against “pro-Khalistan” activists, clashed with Sikh activists and Nihangs.Nihangs had gathered at a gurdwara, Dukh Niwaran Sahib, and marched towards the local Kali Mata temple where the clash took place.A few people were injured in the incident, which saw stone-pelting. Police had to fire into the air to bring the situation under control. Videos circulating on social media show crowds chanting.Chief minister Bhagwant Mann called the incident unfortunate and said he was in touch with the DGP of Punjab police.“The incident of clashes in Patiala is deeply unfortunate. I have spoken to the DGP; peace has been restored in the area. We are closely monitoring the situation and will not let anyone create disturbance in the state,” Mann said in a tweet.“The issue has been solved. There were few Shiv Sena members, and some from the BJP, their district head. On the other side, there were Shiromani Akali Dal workers. It was a clash between two political parties. It was not a communal clash,” he said, according to NDTV.On the other hand, news agency ANI has reported that the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) has written a letter to the Chief Secretary of Punjab asking for a detailed report on the clash.(With PTI inputs)
