Overview
- Newspaper distribution was delayed or halted in parts of Punjab on Sunday after police stopped and inspected vehicles carrying papers overnight.
- Punjab Police said the checks were intelligence-led, supervised by gazetted officers at selected points, and that vehicles were being released to limit disruption.
- Reports from districts including Pathankot, Patiala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur detailed hold-ups, while Mohali saw no disruption and Ludhiana hawkers gathered to receive unloaded bundles.
- Opposition leaders from the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal alleged an attempt to curb coverage related to the 'Sheesh Mahal 2.0' controversy involving Arvind Kejriwal, a claim the government denies.
- The Chandigarh Press Club condemned the stoppages as harmful to press freedom and urged the state to ensure unhindered delivery.