Twitter Blocks BBC's Punjabi Handle Amid Crackdown On Khalistani Supporter Amritpal Singh
British broadcaster BBC News' Punjabi language Twitter account was blocked on Tuesday as the search for Khalistani separatist and 'Punjab Waris De' chief Amritpal Singh enters its 10th day.
New Delhi: British broadcaster BBC News' Punjabi language Twitter account was blocked on Tuesday as the search for Khalistani separatist and 'Punjab Waris De' chief Amritpal Singh enters its 10th day.
The message on the Twitter profile of BBC News Punjabi' read: @bbcnewspunjabi's account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.
BBC has not yet commented on the matter and the request that led to Twitter taking action has not been made public.
"Now BBC News Punjabi twitter handle blocked in India. The government is afraid of the media that criticizes the government and exposes the government. It seems as if an undeclared emergency is being imposed in India, especially in Punjab," tweeted Lakhvir Singh.
"BBC News Punjabi Twitter account blocked in India for spreading misinformation on law and order situation in Punjab and anti-India propaganda," wrote another Twitter user.
Over 100 Twitter handles and several YouTube channels have reportedly been blocked as the state and central authorities continue their hunt for Amritpal Singh.
He has been on the run since March 18th, when the police began pursuing him. Singh managed to escape police capture when his cavalcade was intercepted in Punjab's Jalandhar district.
This morning Nepal added Amritpal to its surveillance list at the request of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, according to officials.
The embassy urged Nepal to prevent Singh from fleeing to a third country and to arrest him if he attempts to escape using an Indian passport or any other fake passport.
The Home Ministry has directed all security agencies to be on high alert in the Nepal-India border area at the request of Indian security officials.
Singh's details and the embassy's letter have been circulated to all concerned agencies, including hotels and airlines, according to a report by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. There has been no immediate confirmation about the letter from the Indian mission in Nepal.
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