According to sources, top Home Ministry and Punjab police officials decided to act against Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh after he led the violent February 24 attack on a police station in Ajnala, on the outskirts of Amritsar.
Amritpal and his supporters, some armed with swords and guns, stormed into the Ajnala police station, using the Sikh holy book as shields, demanding that his key aide, kidnapping suspect Lovepreet Singh, be released.
Both Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Home Minister Amit Shah were then threatened by the radical leader.
The radical preacher’s uncle and driver have surrendered to police in Jalandhar, officials said on Monday, as the hunt for Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh continues. Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered late Sunday night near a gurdwara in Jalandhar’s Mehatpur area, according to Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Swarandeep Singh. The SSP stated that the search for Amritpal is still ongoing. So far, the state police have arrested 112 Amritpal supporters. On Sunday, it held flag marches and searches across the state in search of Amritpal. The Punjab government had launched a major crackdown on Amritpal and his Waris Punjab De the day before, with police arresting 78 members of the outfit. The preacher, on the other hand, eluded their dragnet after his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.
According to sources, the attack on the police station demonstrated that Amritpal was successful in inciting people under the guise of religion, and that he was forming an independent group of armed supporters.
There are videos of Amritpal’s close aides carrying weapons with the ‘Anandpur Khalsa Force’ logo. According to Home Ministry sources, he intends to lead a statewide procession to baptize the state’s youth as devout Sikhs.
According to them, the Khalistani leader was using de-addiction centers to stockpile weapons illegally obtained from Pakistan.
During the Ajnala clash, six police officers were injured, including a Superintendent of Police rank officer.
The BJP wanted Governor’s rule in the state, and the Punjab Congress wanted Amritpal Singh and his supporters arrested for attacking police officers.
Amritpal Singh Crackdown: Here’s What’s Happened So Far
Earlier in the day, Amritpal Singh’s uncle Harjit Singh and another individual were apprehended in Punjab’s Shahkot area. Daljeet Singh Kalsi, who handled the Khalistani ideologue’s finances, was also apprehended in Gurugram. Preventive arrests were made of people attempting to disrupt the state’s peace, law, and order.
A court in Beas sentenced seven of Amritpal’s associates to police custody until March 23 after they were arrested for sieging a police station in Amritsar’s Ajnala area last month. For security reasons, four of the absconding radical leader’s aides were taken to Dibrugarh in Assam.
Flag marches have been conducted throughout the state by district police and paramilitary forces led by Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs), he said, adding that peace committee meetings have also been held in all districts and that the state is currently at peace and harmony.
During the ongoing operations against ‘Waris Punjab De’ elements and persons attempting to disrupt peace and harmony in the state, 34 arrests were made on Sunday from across Punjab, bringing the total number of people arrested in this connection since Saturday to 112.
An abandoned ISUZU vehicle was recovered from Salina village in Jalandhar district during ongoing search operations, according to the spokesperson.
Amritpal used the vehicle while the police were chasing him on Saturday.
A rifle, 57 cartridges, a sword, and a wireless set were also recovered from the abandoned vehicle, he said, adding that the vehicle belonged to Manpreet Singh of Anokharwal village in SBS Nagar, who was arrested.
The spokesperson added that if anyone is found spreading fake news, rumours, or hate speech, strict legal action will be taken. All citizens, media professionals, and social media platform intermediaries are urged to act responsibly and to verify the authenticity of the content they share on various social media, electronic media, and print media platforms, he added.
All mischievous elements attempting to disrupt peace and harmony in the state will be strictly dealt with, according to the spokesperson.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday issued notice to the Punjab government on a habeas corpus petition seeking issuance of directions to the Jalandhar Commissioner of Police and other officials to present alleged “detainee” Amritpal Singh “in the interest of justice”.
On Tuesday, Justice N.S. Shekhawat scheduled a hearing in the case. Petitioner Imaan Singh Khara claimed that the police commissioner and other officials illegally and forcibly detained ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh without any legal authority. The appointment of a warrant officer to visit the’spot’ was also requested.
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