BBC Punjabi’s account withheld in India ‘in response to legal demand’

BBC Punjabi’s Twitter account was withheld in India today even as the police continues its search for Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh. Visitors from India to the Twitter handle can only see a message saying the account has been “withheld in India in response to a legal demand”.

Last week, in the initial days of the Punjab police’s search for Singh, several Twitter accounts had been withheld in India, including those belonging to journalists and Canadian poet Rupi Kaur. 

As reported by Newslaundry, the Twitter accounts of Indian Express reporter Kamaldeep Singh Brar, Pro Punjab TV bureau chief Gagandeep Singh, independent journalist Sandeep Singh, and digital activist Pieter Friedrich were withheld, as were accounts belonging to Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh and SAD’s Sangrur MP Simranjeet Singh Mann.

Before he absconded, Singh had made several speeches supporting demands for Khalistan. After rumours that he fled to Nepal, India on Monday allegedly asked Nepal to “not to permit Amritpal Singh to travel through Nepal for any third country and arrest him if he attempts to escape from Nepal using Indian passport”.

But on the ground in the state, locals told Newslaundry life goes on as usual, despite telecasts claiming that the situation is “volatile” amid a “rise” in pro-Khalistan sentiment in the state. Read the report here.