Indian authorities extended a mobile internet blackout across a state ofabout 30 million people on Monday as police hunted a radical Sikh preacher.
The blackout extension came after supporters of Amritpal Singh were filmedvandalising India’s consulate in San Francisco. A similar disturbance alsotook place in London.
Authorities in the northern state of Punjab launched a major search onSaturday for Singh, who has risen to prominence in recent months demandingthe creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland.
Police said on Monday they had arrested 114 people so far but Singh’swhereabouts were unknown.
The internet outage, originally in place until noon (0630 GMT) on Monday,was extended for another 24 hours.
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Videos posted online, and independently verified by AFP, showed mensmashing doors and windows at the Indian consulate in San Francisco afterthey broke down barricades set up outside the building.
The phrase #FreeAmritpal had been sprayed on the property as several dozenprotesters gathered outside. Indian media reported that the vandalism hadtaken place late Sunday.
India registered a “strong protest” with the State Department as well asthe US embassy in New Delhi.
