Several newspapers faced delays in distribution across different parts of Punjab on Sunday, as police conducted thorough checks of vehicles carrying newspapers. Reports from Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur indicated that police teams stopped and thoroughly searched newspaper vans. In Ahmedgarh, people took to social media to ask why newspapers had not been delivered. One reader reported that no newspapers had been delivered in Mandi Ahmedgarh by 9 am on Sunday morning, and people were angry about it. This is perhaps the first time since the days of terrorism that newspaper circulation has been affected. Reports from Amritsar, Faridkot, and Muktsar also claimed that newspapers were not circulated.
In Patiala, vehicles carrying local language newspapers were thoroughly checked early in the morning, “but were later allowed to proceed.” However, in smaller towns like Samana and Patran, vendors claimed that the supply was affected and delayed due to police checking of vehicles carrying newspapers.
Exercise aimed at preventing smuggling: Police
Special DGP Arpit Shukla said that the checking of newspaper vehicles was based on intelligence inputs that these vehicles could be used for smuggling drugs or weapons. “There is no attempt to stop the circulation of newspapers. The vehicles and drivers were released after thorough checking. Others will also be processed accordingly.” A senior police officer involved in the checking of these vehicles said, “The inputs we received were about some local newspaper vehicles. In the checking process, vehicles carrying other newspapers were also affected.”
Opposition alleges attack on press freedom
The opposition has alleged an attack on press freedom in Punjab. Congress secretary Pargat Singh claimed in a post on X that the Bhagwant Mann government allegedly conducted raids and stopped the distribution of newspapers across the state to prevent the news of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal staying at Punjab’s government house number 50 from reaching the public. Pargat further alleged that looting Punjab’s treasury for the Delhi lobby was already an open secret, but now even newspapers are being stopped to hide the truth. He wrote, “This is not administration, this is a silent emergency being imposed in Punjab. Punjab will not tolerate this.”
‘Sunday ruined’: Readers complain to vendors
In Ludhiana, at 4 am, vehicles carrying different newspapers reached the agency near the Clock Tower, but they were taken to the police station. Vehicles carrying The Tribune and Ajit newspapers were released an hour later at 5:15 am. Vehicles carrying Jagran, Bhaskar, and Punjab Kesari were released at 7:15 am. A hawker, Imran Mohammad, said that the vehicles carrying the newspaper supply reached Ahmedgarh around 8:30 am, about four hours later than the usual time. Like other hawkers, Imran also received calls from his customers complaining about not receiving newspapers at their homes. Readers complained that their Sunday was ruined because they couldn’t start their day by reading the newspaper. The situation was no different in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib. A newspaper agent said that newspapers usually arrive at 4 am every day, but today The Tribune arrived at 5:40 am and Punjab Kesari at 7:30 am. He said that the Punjab Kesari van was stopped by the Sahnewal police and taken to the police station.
