Ferozepur: While the suspension of mobile phone internet services in Punjab, for the third day, in view of police action against pro-Khalistan activists and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has affected normal life but at the same time it was necessary to control the spreading of rumours and circulation of unnecessary messages on the social media. However, Wi-Fi has become a Lifeline.
On the first day, most of the people were seen scrolling on the various apps and did not even notice the disappearing network bars, even refresh it by rebooting and came to know only through a TV news about the suspension of network in Punjab, said Jatinder Sikri.
Internet services on the mobile are now the only source to keep yourself updated for official works and to be busy on the mobile social media.
During the last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them waving swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of Amritpal's aide.
The people, especially the youths, who remain on the mobile using social media apps were disappointed but majority of the class has compromised and support the action of the Punjab government, in order to maintain law and order in the state.
The life has become dependent on the internet as almost every business house is connected with the internet services – like net banking, net billing, deposit of fees, recharging of mobiles, online payments on Paytm, GPay, Cab services, even the reports on E-Punjab portal were not possible to update, in the absence of OTP either not getting or receiving late.
In fact, most of the people now use the net banking transactions online and they don’t have to go to the banks. But now, to avoid disconnection or penalty, the people had to go to the office personally to make certain payments.
Another class affected is ‘delivery boy’ of junk food companies, whose orders declined from 200 to 300 to 15 to 20.
One of the boys, fond of posting on social media of reels, was feeling something missing in life with the ban on internet services as they were addicted to mobile phones most of the time.
There was definitely a relief to those who were having the Wi-Fi facility at their homes or offices were not having this problem.