Overview
- Coordinated pre-dawn checks on November 2 delayed or halted newspaper distribution across several Punjab districts, with some vehicles held for hours.
- Punjab Police said the operation followed specific intelligence on cross-border smuggling risks and was conducted under gazetted officers' supervision.
- Drivers and vendors reported phones taken, vehicles routed to police stations, and deliveries released only after sunrise, leaving readers without Sunday papers.
- Opposition leaders accused the AAP government of muzzling the press, linking the timing to coverage of the 'Sheesh Mahal 2.0' allegations involving Arvind Kejriwal.
- Press bodies, including the Indian Newspaper Society and Chandigarh Press Club, condemned the disruption and sought clear instructions for unhindered movement, as no seizures have been publicly reported.