Patiala violence: Top cops transferred, mobile internet services suspended

Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Saturday took strict action against the state police, removing three top officers from their posts over the failure to control the violence between two groups over an anti-Khalistan march that left four people injured on Friday.

The order to suspend the inspector general of police (Patiala Range), the Patiala senior superintendent of police, and the superintendent of police was issued under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Mukhwinder Singh Chinna has been appointed as the new IG-Patiala Range while Deepak Parik will be the new senior superintendent of police for Patiala.

Meanwhile, Wazir Singh has been appointed as the new superintendent of police of Patiala.

A curfew that was imposed in the city at 7 pm yesterday was lifted at 6 am today but mobile internet and SMS services were blocked in the city to prevent rumor-mongering, officials said. All mobile internet and SMS services, except voice calls, will remain suspended in the district from 9:30 am till 6 pm, the state government 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 with this 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.

The situation was brought under control after police fired in the air to disperse the crowd.

Later in the evening, Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) leader Harish Singla was arrested after a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

Mr. Mann called the incident unfortunate and vowed his government would not let anyone create disturbance in the state.