New Delhi: Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh has been detained by Punjab Police, who in a crackdown against Singh on Saturday, March 18, also detained six of his supporters.
Dainik Jagran and The Tribune have cited sources to say that Singh was detained, while the news agency PTI has reported that this is yet unconfirmed. The Wire has been able to confirm from sources on the ground that Singh has indeed been detained by police.
Across Punjab, internet services have been suspended till 12 noon on Sunday, March 19, and police have asked people not to “panic or spread fake news or hate speech.”
Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony
Punjab Police is working to maintain Law & Order
Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or hate speech pic.twitter.com/gMwxlOrov3
— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) March 18, 2023
Amripal was travelling in a cavalcade which was intercepted by police in Mehatpur village of Jalandhar district. As police gave chase, Singh shared videos on social media and also, reportedly, broadcasted a Facebook Live session.
His supporters also shared similar footage.
Protests and rallies have already taken off in various cities in support of Singh.
#InPics | Protest taken out in #Punjab's #Mohali in support of pro-Khalistan supporter #AmritpalSingh
(📷: Ravi Kumar / Hindustan Times) pic.twitter.com/4TFEpXtisu
— HT Punjab (@HTPunjab) March 18, 2023
Singh shot into the limelight last September as the head of the group Waris Pujab De. He has publicly voiced demands for Khalistan, a separate Sikh state.
This February, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them armed with swords and guns, laid siege to a police station in which Lovepreet Singh, his aide, was detained in connection with the alleged kidnapping of Varinder Singh. Despite prohibitory orders being clamped to prevent the congregation, the men clashed with police, injuring several cops.
Varinder in his complaint accused Amritpal and his supporters of kidnapping and beating him up in Ajnala.