Indian authorities Monday cut internet access for around 27 million people for a third day. In a press conference, Punjab General Inspector Sukhchain Singh Gill confirmed the shutdown and justified it as a way to prevent the “spread of fake news” as authorities search for Sikh separatist preacher Amritpal Singh. Singh Gill claimed Punjab police always do their job “within the ambit of the law.”

Amritpal Singh is the leader of the Waris Panjab De organisation and has been declared a fugitive by the Indian government. Singh has been accused of spreading hate speech and being a radical preacher. The tension increased between authorities and Singh after the Punjab police launched a crackdown on his organisation in March whic resulted in the arrest of 78 people.

The internet shutdown was carried out under the Temporary suspension of Telecom services Rules, 2017. The law declares that internet suspension is allowed in cases of “public emergency or public safety.” The government has insisted the shutdown was to stop the spread of “fake news” and “prevent any incitement to violence.” The World Sikh organisation condemned the operation and called the internet restrictions “draconian.”

A report by the Legal Service India reported that in 2018 India had the highest number of internet shutdowns of any nation in 2018, with 134 shutdowns.