Amid the large scale crackdown on pro-Khalistan outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’ and other Sikh bodies, Amnesty India released a statement on Wednesday expressing its concern over the restrictions imposed in the region.
“We are concerned about reports of mass arrests and restrictions on peaceful assemblies, taking place alongside online censorship and internet shutdowns. Certain districts continue to experience an internet shutdown today,” Amnesty said.
It added that on 18 March authorities in Punjab imposed an internet shutdown as they launched an operation to search for Amritpal Singh, leader of the organization Waris Panjab De. And that the shutdown was lifted in some areas, but continues in others.
“Social media accounts of several journalists and leaders in Punjab were also withheld in India in response to legal demands from authorities. This is concerning because it can prevent critical documentation of human rights violations,” read the statement further.
Further, Amnesty said that overbroad censorship and internet shutdowns are a violation of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. According to Access Now India has had the highest number of internet shutdowns for 5 years in a row.
“Indian authorities must stop using overbroad reasons like those of ‘public safety’ to impose internet shutdowns over millions of people. Authorities in Punjab must immediately restore internet access in all districts,” the statement concluded.
Pertinently, since Sunday, the authorities in Punjab have launched a large scale search operation in the region in order to nab Amritpal Singh, the leader of ‘Waris Punjab De’, an outfit earlier headed by late Deep Sidhu.