Controversial Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh is still on the run, Punjab Police said on Saturday said, following a massive manhunt that was launched to nab him. Earlier, unconfirmed reports said that Amritpal was arrested but Punjab Police later issued a statement confirming that a hunt was underway to arrest Amritpal Singh while 78 of his associates were held.
Six associates from Amritpal Singh’s team were earlier arrested by police after a tense high-speed chase involving around 100 police cars amid heavy drama in Jallupur Khera village.
#BreakingNews | Waris Punjab De Chief #AmritpalSingh detained by #Punjab police. #Exclusive inputs by @manojkumargupta and @NapinderNews18 with the detailsJoin the broadcast with @akankshaswarups pic.twitter.com/rxHSiYNJO4
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 18, 2023
Following the incident, the Punjab Home Secretary had announced that internet services in the state would be snapped till tomorrow. Heavy police deployment was seen in the Moga district of Punjab. Security was also beefed up around Singh’s residence in Jullupur Khera village near Amritsar.
Meanwhile, the Punjab police issued an appeal to maintain law and order and called for peace in the state. They also urged people not to interfere with police operations.
Earlier this month, a close aide of the Waris Punjab De Chief was arrested at Amritsar airport after he allegedly tried to flee the country.
Airport authorities at Sri Guru Ramdass International airport detained Gurinderpal Singh Aujala, who reportedly handled social media for the controversial radical preacher.
Officials said that Aujala was trying to flee to England. Sources said he was trying to take an Air India flight to London.
Anger Over Ajnala Incident
On February 24, an armed mob led by the radical Sikh preacher clashed with police and laid siege to the Ajnala police station near Amritsar. They demanded the release of one of their colleagues who had been taken into custody in an alleged kidnapping case.
Six policemen were injured in the bloody clash.
Police officials later clarified that they were unable to control the crowd as they were carrying a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, also called Bir in Punjabi, as a shield.
After 12 days of the bloody clash, Punjab Police had decided to cancel nine arms licenses of Amritpal Singh’s guards. Also, the police sought details of his security guards.
Inexplicably, there is no FIR against him yet after the incident raising questions over inaction by the ruling AAP government.
‘Not Scared of Arrest or Death’
In an interview to News18 last week, 30-year-old Singh had said, “I think the current government will think maturely what they will do (against me). I do not fear being arrested or being killed. But what charges are they going to arrest me on?” - Full Interview here
On the criticism against him, Singh claimed he has been carrying a ‘swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib wherever he goes. “It was false propaganda against me and that day it was not even an issue in Ajnala. Police had falsely imprisoned a person and had to release him. Then they started this whole propaganda,” Singh told News18 earlier.
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