At around 1:30 am on Sunday, both uncle and driver of the Khalistan leader surrendered. Amritpal Singh is still on the run after he escaped from the search operation on him and all those associated with him.
Uncle Harjit Singh and Driver Harpreet Singh surrendered to the deputy inspector general of police (Border Range) Narendra Bhargav, near gurudwara in Jalandhar in the Mehatpur area.
On March 18, the Punjab government and Punjab police officials decided to clamp down on Amritpal Singh and his organization known as ‘Waris Punjab De’ (“Heirs of Punjab”). With this, the police started the search, and on the first day, 78 members supporting him were arrested.
The manhunt is still on, Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of police Swarandeep Singh said.
So far, police have arrested 112 people associates of Amritpal Singh. Police have also conducted flag marches and search operations on him across the state.
21 members were taken into custody after they tried to demonstrate a protest.
There are three cases registered against the Khalistani leader, out of which two are for spreading hate speech and provoking the public and back in February Amritpal clashed with Ajnala police station with swords and arms and forcefully seized and demanded the release Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan who was accused of kidnapping. During this protest, six policemen were injured. Khalistani sympathizer and preacher was quite active in recent times in Punjab.
Four men who are identified as his alleged fundraiser, Dalijit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and ‘Pradhanmantri’ Bajeka; are under arrest by the police and are shifted to Dibrugarh, Assam.
He also tied the knot this year with UK-based NRI Kirandeep Kaur according to the police record.
Police alleged that Amritpal Singh escaped during the chase.
They have also recovered the Mercedes car in which he escaped during the interception by the Punjab police at Mehatpur police station on Saturday. Police stopped a convoy of three SUVs outside his paternal village. The chase continued for 25 Kms between the police car and Amritpal Singh, finally, he ditched the vehicle and escaped. Though 2 cars were intercepted and seven people were arrested.
India-Nepal border security is ordered to be tightened. As he may try to escape through the border.
Punjab IGP said they have a very strong suspicion of the involvement of an ISI angle, based on the facts and information that have come to the forefront so far. There have been some transactions made that point towards some alleged foreign funding. It looks like ISI is involved and there is some foreign funding.
Weapons have been recovered from his home on which AKF was written and also AKF(‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj’) was painted on the gate of Amritpal Singh showing an attempt to form Jathebandi.
Amritpal’s advocate filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the high court.
The petition is filed in Punjab and Haryana court, claiming the arrest to be illegal. Moreover, the petition urged the high court to pass an order to release the leader and that he will be presented before the court.
All the internet services and other mobile services like SMS services and dongle services (except banking and Mobile recharge) are suspended till March 21, and the decision is taken in the public’s interest: Dept of home affairs & justice, Govt of Punjab.
