Internet blackout in 30 million Indian states as Sikh preacher hunted

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Internet blackout in 30 million Indian states as Sikh preacher hunted

AMRITSAR: Indian authorities extended a mobile internet blackout across a state of about 30 million people on Monday as police hunted a radical Sikh preacher.

The blackout extension came after supporters of Amritpal Singh were filmed vandalising India's consulate in San Francisco. A similar disturbance took place in London.

Authorities in the northern state of Punjab launched a major search on Saturday for Singh, who has risen to prominence in recent months, demanding the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland.

The police said on Monday they had arrested 114 people but Singh's whereabouts was not known.

The internet outage, originally in place until noon on Monday, was extended for another 24 hours.

Videos posted online, and independently verified by AFP, showed men smashing doors and windows at the Indian consulate in San Francisco after they broke down barricades set up outside the building.

The phrase FreeAmritpal had been sprayed on the property as several dozen protesters gathered outside. The Indian media reported that the vandalism had taken place late on Sunday.

India has a strong protest against the US embassy in New Delhi and the State Department.

The U.S. government was reminded of its duty to protect and secure diplomatic representation, according to a statement late on Monday by the country's foreign ministry.

Washington was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, according to the ministry.

The State Department responded by condemning the weekend's vandalism and saying it was committed to the safety and security of these facilities as well as the diplomats who work within them.