'Won't let Punjab plunge into anarchy': CM Amarinder Singh issues stern warning after protesters damage 1,500 mobile towers in state

The chief minister also warned that the use of violence could alienate the protesters from the masses which would be detrimental to the interests of the farming community Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said that 1,561 mobile towers have been “impacted” in the state during the farmers’ stir against the agri laws and directed the police to take strict action against vandalisation and disruption of telecom services. The chief minister said that the general public including students, professionals working from home, and banking services would suffer the most if the mobile services were disrupted and warned that the use of violence could alienate the protesters from the masses which would be detrimental to the interests of the farming community. Calling upon farmers and their supporters to put an immediate stop to such destructive activities, which were being disowned by farmer leaders themselves, the chief minister said disruption of telecom services could lead to a communications blackout in the state, causing its people, especially students and working professionals, to suffer serious consequences. The chief minister further said that professionals working from home, with many of them having come to Punjab during the pandemic, could lose their jobs due to such acts of violence and damage to property.