Tag: Punjab

  • NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt tells HC

    NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt tells HC

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    Chandigarh: The stringent National Security Act has been invoked against Amritpal Singh, the Punjab government on Tuesday told the high court which rapped it over the “intelligence failure” that led to the pro-Khalistan preacher giving police the slip.

    The Punjab and Haryana High Court was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the “release” of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody.

    Justice N S Shekhawat asked Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai how Amritpal Singh gave police the slip when the whole operation was meticulously planned and called it an intelligence failure, a lawyer said.

    Police on Saturday had launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De.’ The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district.

    In his petition, Khara sought the production of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal advisor of Amritpal Singh and his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De.’

    The Punjab Police say the Khalistan sympathizer is still on the run after escaping their dragnet.

    Speaking to reporters after the court hearing, Khara said the Punjab advocate general filed its record pertaining to Amritpal Singh in the high court.

    Khara said Ghai told the court that five to six FIRs have been registered in the matter. The petitioner further said that the AG told the court that NSA has been invoked against Amritpal Singh.

    The step was taken after the senior superintendent of police Amritsar recommended it to the district magistrate. However, according to the reply filed by the state, Amritpal Singh has not been detained by police, said Khara.

    Armed with weapons, the entire state machinery swung into action yet Amritpal Singh managed to escape while all his associates were arrested, Justice Shekhawat observed and said it was hard for him to believe this.

    Replying to the court queries, the Punjab AG said the state police was fully armed but exercised restraint due to security issues as the operation occurred at a public place.

    Some matters are so sensitive that they cannot be explained in open court, Ghai said, adding that the Punjab Police was doing its best to arrest Amritpal Singh.

    Meanwhile, Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh also reached the court but Justice Shekhawat stated that he cannot be heard as he is not a party in the case.

    The HC appointed advocate Tanu Bedi as amicus curiae to assist the court.

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    #NSA #invoked #Amritpal #Singh #Punjab #govt #tells

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Punjab: VHP hails crackdown on Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh

    Punjab: VHP hails crackdown on Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh

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    New Delhi: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday hailed the police crackdown on radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh in Punjab, saying the state government’s action in collaboration with the Centre reflects the country’s resolve to take on forces challenging the sovereignty of India.

    Addressing a press conference, VHP working president Alok Kumar also appreciated the Punjab government for showing the “will-power and determination” to take action against such elements.

    He also called upon everyone to rise above political lines and come together to send out a message that the country will not allow anyone to let Punjab “burn in the fire of terrorism once again.”

    “In the last two days, the will power and determination that Punjab has shown as well as the way the state government and the Centre together has taken on the forces challenging the sovereignty of India reflects the country’s resolve,” Kumar told reporters.

    “The Punjab government joining hands with the Centre has challenged the divisive forces in the state and we see that the one, who used to challenge the government and challenge the country’s Home minister, had to run and hide today,” he said.

    The VHP leader alleged that Khalistan is “a new business, especially in Canada and England,” and said every Indian should rise and protest against it.

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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    #Punjab #VHP #hails #crackdown #Khalistan #sympathiser #Amritpal #Singh

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Sukhbir slams AAP for ‘undeclared emergency’, ‘reign of repression’ in Punjab

    Sukhbir slams AAP for ‘undeclared emergency’, ‘reign of repression’ in Punjab

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    Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on Monday came down heavily against “the puppet AAP regime in Punjab for the undeclared emergency and reign of repression and terror let loose in the state”.

    He also warned against “dangerous conspiracies to defame the most patriotic Sikh community for communal polarisation and electoral gains”. “The same conspiracies were hatched and implemented by the Congress in the past and now the present regime is following in their footsteps to set Punjab on fire,” he claimed.

    The Akali President said the government-led by Parkash Singh Badal had pulled the state out of the bloody cycle of terror and repression and started an era of peace and progress. “But the governments that followed have pushed the state back into the jaws of insecurity and repression reminiscent of the dark and tragic era of the eighties,” he said in a statement.

    Sikhs are the most patriotic people and have made the greatest sacrifices for securing and safeguarding the independence, the unity and integrity of India and “we will do so again whenever the country needs it”, he stressed.

    “This is our country and the Sikhs need no certificate from anyone on their patriotism,” said Badal after an emergent meeting of senior leaders of the party.

    He assured the people of Punjab that the SAD “will fight all forces out to disturb peace and harmony here”. He said SAD is the champion of the rights and a guarantor of peace and “Sarbat da bhala”.

    Coming down strongly against the AAP government, Badal strongly condemned the indiscriminate arrests of innocent Sikh youth, especially the Amritdhari youth on mere suspicion through resort to extra-constitutional methods.

    He demanded the immediate release of all innocents arrested in the ongoing crackdown.

    Badal said SAD stands for justice and for the protection of the rights of the Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular within the federal framework, with more powers to the states, a demand echoed now by other political parties too.

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    #Sukhbir #slams #AAP #undeclared #emergency #reign #repression #Punjab

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Moosewala’s parents protest outside Punjab Assembly complex seeking justice for their son

    Moosewala’s parents protest outside Punjab Assembly complex seeking justice for their son

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    Chandigarh: Slain singer Sidhu Moosewala’s parents on Sunday launched an attack on the Punjab government, alleging that the crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh was deliberately timed to coincide with the observance of death anniversary of their son.

    “I want to ask the government why did they not find any other day to catch Amritpal? Why they chose today? Why internet has been suspended today…,” said Balkaur Singh, the father of Moosewala who was shot dead in May last year.

    Singh alleged that it was deliberately done as people were to raise their voice seeking justice for Moosewala at his “barsi” (death anniversary) event, and asserted that their fight will continue till they get justice.

    “Can they suppress our voice seeking justice in this manner…,” Singh said addressing the gathering in their native village Mansa. Senior state Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, attended the event.

    A hunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh continued for the second day as the Punjab government extended curbs on mobile internet and SMS services till Monday noon.

    The self-styled radical preacher has been on the run since the Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on Saturday and arrested 78 members of the ‘Waris Punjab De’, headed by him.

    Moosewala’s father said that when people have gathered in his native village to pay tributes to the late singer and hold prayers, they do not have access to internet.

    People do not have access to internet but gangsters lodged in jails have it, he alleged.

    He also claimed that gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi were having a free run as he referred to one of his recent TV interviews. “When he (Lawrence Bishnoi) appeared on TV, I felt like my son has died again,” he said.

    Balkaur Singh reiterated that the alleged masterminds behind his son’s murder were still at large.

    Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29.

    His death anniversary was observed in advance.

    Balkaur Singh and his wife Charan Kaur had earlier this month sat on a protest outside the Punjab Assembly complex in Chandigarh seeking justice for their son.

    “Don’t force us to sit outside the gates of Vidhan Sabha again. What is our demand after all? It is just that the masterminds in the case should be brought to book. The names of people whom we suspect of conspiring our son’s murder should be questioned. Is this an unjustified demand,” he told the gathering.

    Moosewala’s mother Charan Kaur alleged that gangsters lodged in jails were signing death warrants of people.

    On Amritpal Singh, she said she does not know who he was or from where he had come, but added he was steering the youth towards “Sikhi” and that so far no wrong action on his part had come to the fore.

    She said that the date for her son’s death anniversary event had been announced much in advance, but the authorities chose the time to announce that they had registered FIRs against Amritpal and his supporters in the Ajnala incident and launched a crackdown.

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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    #Moosewalas #parents #protest #Punjab #Assembly #complex #seeking #justice #son

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Punjab on alert: 34 more Amritpal supporters held, key aides shifted to Assam prison

    Punjab on alert: 34 more Amritpal supporters held, key aides shifted to Assam prison

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    Chandigarh/Dibrugarh: Police on Sunday conducted flag marches and searches across Punjab in their manhunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh, arresting 34 more supporters and shifting four men in custody to a jail in far-off Assam.

    The Punjab and Haryana High Court has, however, asked the state government to respond on Tuesday to a habeas corpus petition, claiming that the preacher is already in illegal police custody and should be released.

    Justice N S Shekhawat held the hearing at his home-office as the courts were closed.

    Police stuck to their version that the “Waris Punjab De” chief gave them the slip during a car chase in Jalandhar district on Saturday, when the crackdown against the group began. They have slapped fresh FIRs against the Khalistan sympathiser and his supporters.

    Section 144 of the CrPc, which prohibits congregations, was imposed in the union territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Prohibitory orders were already in force in some parts of Punjab.

    Police recovered a second vehicle in the case, an abandoned pick-up with a gun, a sword and several cartridges in Jalandhar district’s Salema village and said it appeared to be a part of Amritpal Singh’s cavalcade.

    The crackdown has come weeks after Singh and his supporters barged into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar, extracting an assurance that an arrested man would be released.

    Twenty-one Amritpal supporters were taken into custody near Boparai Kalan in Jalandhar district when they tried to stage a ‘dharna’ over the previous days’ action.

    These detentions are apparently not part of the arrests’ tally given by police 78 on Saturday and 34 more on Sunday. Earlier, police said nine firearms have also been seized.

    The state remained on high alert. Security forces took out flag marches at several places including Ferozepur, Bathinda, Rupnagar, Faridkot, Batala, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Moga and Jalandhar in a show of strength.

    The Punjab government also extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services till Monday noon. The official order, which exempted banking services, said this was to “prevent any incitement to violence and any disturbance of peace and public order”.

    Four of the arrested men were brought to BJP-ruled Assam’s Dibrugarh by a 27-member Punjab Police team accompanying them, according to an Assam Police officer.

    The men, now lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, were identified as alleged fund raiser Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Pradhanmantri’ Bajeka.

    “Sometimes persons arrested in one state are sent to another state’s jail,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters. “We will provide them all security in the jail,” he said.

    Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, soon after the Ajnala episode. Days earlier, Amritpal Singh had also made a veiled threat to Shah.

    Security has also been tightened at Amritpal’s native village Jallupur Khera in Amritsar, where his father Tarsem Singh said his son may have already been detained by police.

    “He faces a threat to life,” the fugitive’s father said. “There is no information since yesterday. We feel he has already been detained.”

    Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said Amritpal Singh is still absconding.

    “Whatever the Punjab Police does in this case will be within the ambit of law. Everybody has a legal right and can avail whatever remedies are available under the law.”

    He said police have acted in a transparent manner and Amritpal Singh was seen escaping at the “naka” laid for him in Mehatpur.

    Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal called it a game of “chor-sipahi” (robbers and cops).

    “Sometimes, they manage to escape. But we will soon arrest him,” he said, maintaining that there was no lapse on Saturday.

    The officer said Singh’s vehicle was chased for 20 to 25 kilometres. There were narrow streets and “somehow he managed to escape by changing his vehicle”.

    Police have now registered an FIR against Amritpal Singh and his supporters for breaking through a police checkpoint and another related to the recovery of a firearm in the vehicle found in a Jalandhar village.

    Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh said another FIR was registered Saturday night under the Arms Act after the arrest of seven of the preacher’s associates in that district.

    Police warned that strict action will be taken against anyone spreading rumours, saying it was monitoring fake news and hate speeches from different countries, states and cities.

    The crackdown follows the FIR registered a day after the storming of the Ajnala police station on February 23.

    The preacher and his supporters were accused of spreading disharmony, attempt to murder, attacking police personnel and obstructing public servants in discharge of their duties.

    Six police personnel, including a superintendent of police, were injured in Ajnala.

    Opposition parties had flagged the incident as a sign of the Aadm Aadmi Party government’s failure to maintain law and order and expressed fears that Punjab could slide back to the days of Khalistan militancy.

    Dubai-returned Amritpal became the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.

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    #Punjab #alert #Amritpal #supporters #held #key #aides #shifted #Assam #prison

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Notice to Punjab on habeas corpus to present Amritpal Singh

    Notice to Punjab on habeas corpus to present Amritpal Singh

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    Chandigarh: 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”.

    Justice N S Shekhawat fixed the case for further hearing on Tuesday.

    Petitioner Imaan Singh Khara alleged that ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh had been illegally and forcibly detained by the police commissioner and other officials without any authority of law.

    Directions were also sought for the appointment of a warrant officer to visit the “spot”.

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    #Notice #Punjab #habeas #corpus #present #Amritpal #Singh

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Hunt for Amritpal: Haryana Police intensifies checking of vehicles along Punjab border

    Hunt for Amritpal: Haryana Police intensifies checking of vehicles along Punjab border

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    Chandigarh: With a manhunt underway for radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh in Punjab, Haryana has intensified checking of vehicles along the border with the neighbouring state.

    Punjab Police on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Amritpal and suspended internet and SMS services till Monday noon. It has arrested 78 members of ‘Punjab Waris De’, an outfit headed by him.

    At the Shambhu border with Punjab, Ambala police have been put on high alert, officials said on Sunday.

    Additional checkpoints have been set up and a large number of police personnel have been deployed there, they said.

    In some other districts too, including Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Sirsa, which share borders with Punjab, police are maintaining strict vigil and have intensified checking of vehicles, they said.

    CIA-1 incharge of Ambala police Harjinder Singh, who was present at the Haryana-Punjab border near Shambhu, said the situation is normal and peaceful but police are maintaining a vigil.

    In Punjab, security forces conducted flag marches at several places in the state, including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

    Dubai-returned Amritpal was last year anointed the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.

    Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides. Six policemen were injured in the incident.

    Punjab Police filed an FIR on February 23 in connection with the incident.

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    #Hunt #Amritpal #Haryana #Police #intensifies #checking #vehicles #Punjab #border

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Flag marches in Punjab; suspension of mobile Internet till Monday

    Flag marches in Punjab; suspension of mobile Internet till Monday

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    Chandigarh: To prevent any untoward incident in case of the arrest of absconding Sikh radical preacher Amritpal Singh, head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, who has been declared a ‘fugitive’, the police along with CRPF personnel on Sunday conducted flag marches across Punjab.

    Punjab Police are planning to book Amritpal Singh under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA), sources privy to the development told IANS.

    In the interest of public safety, the government extended the suspension of SMS and mobile Internet services, except the voice call, till Monday noon.

    Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal told the media that the police have set up 100 checkpoints in Amritsar and city outskirts to physically check vehicles. CRPF jawans were accompanying the policemen at checkpoints.

    Officials told IANS the flag marches are being conducted in towns and cities in all districts.

    Anticipating a disturbance of peace, a large contingent of the paramilitary force was deployed outside Amritpal Singh’s native village, Jallupur Khaira, in the Amritsar district.

    A special team of the police, comprising personnel from seven districts, had followed the separatist leader’s convoy while he was on his way to Jalandhar’s Shahkot tehsil on Saturday. They zeroed in on his vehicle two to three times but Amritpal Singh managed to escape.

    Section 144 has been imposed in many districts of the state. The police have also increased security in the state. In addition, all vehicles are being checked at the Punjab-Haryana border.

    Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh told the media the police should have arrested him before he left the house. “We don’t have any information about his whereabouts. They carried out a search at our residence for 3-4 hours but did not find anything illegal.”

    He called the police action “unjustified” and said his son was weaning the youth off drugs. “Why were the police not acting against criminals and those involved in drugs,” he asked.

    Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said Amritpal’s six gunmen were nabbed. “A manhunt for Amritpal Singh is on and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underway,” he added.

    “During the statewide operation, nine weapons, including one .315 bore rifle, seven rifles of 12 bore, one revolver and 373 live cartridges of different caliber have been recovered so far,” the police said in a statement on Twitter.

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    #Flag #marches #Punjab #suspension #mobile #Internet #Monday

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Canadian diaspora concerned over suspension of mobile internet in Punjab

    Canadian diaspora concerned over suspension of mobile internet in Punjab

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    Chandigarh: Diaspora in Canada is concerned over the recent development in Punjab regarding the suspension of SMS and mobile internet services, except the voice call, in the interest of public safety as the police launched action against ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief and Khalistan ideologue Amritpal Singh and his aides.

    “I am receiving calls from my residents and am deeply concerned about reports coming out of Punjab, India regarding SMS and internet blackouts,” tweeted Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on Sunday.

    “I hope the situation is resolved soon & Canadians travelling to the region are able to connect with their families and friends in Canada.”

    Joining the issue, Iqwinder S. Gaheer, MP for Mississauga-Malton, tweeted: “I am troubled by what I am hearing from constituents and the reports coming out of Punjab, India: authorities have enacted the mass suspension of internet services and are preventing gatherings of more than 4.”

    “Civil rights and liberties should be maintained in a democracy.”

    Calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government to immediately contact their Indian counterparts to express concern regarding the suspension of civil liberties and the safety of Canadians abroad, Jagmeet Singh, Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, tweeted: “I am deeply concerned by reports that India has suspended civil liberties and imposed an internet blackout throughout the state of Punjab.”

    Replying to him, one user wrote: “What a hypocrite you are! You’re concerned about suspended civil liberties and an internet blackout in Punjab but you say nothing about it happening in Canada.”

    Another user think Jagmeet Singh is being disrespectful. “Draconian measures were when truckers’ protests were crushed in Canada. Jagmeet Singh ji you supported the crushing of a democratic, peaceful movement by @JustinTrudeau now you want him to go feral over the suspension of mobile texts (home internet working fine) in Punjab!”

    “If u are so concerned about Punjab then come to India, Punjab. It’s easy to pass judgement sitting in another corner and where you actually don’t know what’s happening,” another user wrote.

    “Human rights are the basis of any democracy,” said charity United Sikhs. “The Indian state is setting up its own records for violating #HumanRights in every possible way to oppress the Sikhs in India. Why is there a mass atrocity of human rights violation against Sikhs in India? What are the grounds for Amritpal’s arrest?”

    Meanwhile, the massive police search operation continued on the second day on Sunday to arrest Sikh radical Amritpal Singh, head of ‘Waris Punjab De’.

    Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal told the media that Amritpal Singh was declared a ‘fugitive’.

    The police search operations are now mainly focused in Jalandhar district from where he managed to given the police a slip when it tried to intercept his vehicle to arrest him.

    Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh told the media the police should have arrested him before he left the house. “We don’t have any information about his whereabouts. They carried out a search at our residence for 3-4 hours but did not find anything illegal.”

    He called the police action “unjustified” and said his son was weaning the youth off drugs. “Why the police were not acting against criminals and those involved in drugs,” he asked.

    Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Chahal said Amritpal’s six gunmen were nabbed. “A manhunt for Amritpal Singh is on and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underway,” he added.

    “During the state-wide operation, nine weapons, including one .315 bore rifle, seven rifles of 12 bore, one revolver and 373 live cartridges of different caliber have been recovered so far,” the police said in a statement on Twitter on Saturday evening.

    “Waris Punjab De elements are involved in four criminal cases relating to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants. FIR stands registered for the attack on Ajnala Police Station,” it added.

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    #Canadian #diaspora #concerned #suspension #mobile #internet #Punjab

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Suspense over arrest of radical Amritpal Singh in Punjab continues

    Suspense over arrest of radical Amritpal Singh in Punjab continues

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    Chandigarh: Suspense continued over the arrest of radical Sikh preacher and Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh in Punjab on Saturday after his dramatic escape from a high-speed chase by the state police, officials said.

    However, seven people accompanying him and carrying ammunition were arrested but Amritpal Singh, the chief of ‘Waris Punjab De’, managed to escape by changing his vehicle that was chased by the police to another one.

    Meanwhile, the number of arrested people owing allegiance to Amritpal Singh rose to 78.

    Some police officials told IANS that he has been zeroed in Sarih village in Nakodar tehsil in Jalandhar district where he was convinced to surrender.

    A house-to-house search operation in villages in Nakodar is on, said a senior official. Even the central paramilitary forces have been involved in the search operation.

    Meanwhile, internet services across the state were suspended as a precautionary step.

    Supporters of Amritpal Singh have been sharing videos of police vehicles chasing Singh’s cavalcade in Moga district.

    Anticipating disturbance of peace, a large contingent of the paramilitary force was deployed outside his native village, Jallupur Khaira, in Amritsar district.

    A special team of the police, comprising personnel from seven districts, had followed the separatist leader’s convoy while he was on his way to Jalandhar’s Shahkot tehsil. They had closed on his vehicles two to three times but Amritpal Singh managed to escape.

    Section 144 has been imposed in many districts of the state. The police have also increased security in the state. In addition, all vehicles are being checked at the Punjab-Haryana border.

    Thirty-year-old Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan fiery propagator and self-styled preacher, has been running ‘separatist’ propaganda through speeches. Three cases, including two of delivering hate speeches, have been pending against him.

    On the radar of Central investigating agencies, he has drawn comparisons to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale owing to his similar looks and donning a navy blue turban, a white chola, and a sword-sized kirpan.

    On February 23, an armed mob led by Amritpal Singh clashed with police and laid siege to a police station near Amritsar, demanding 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 had 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.

    As the Internet was suspended on Saturday, Punjab Police urged people to maintain peace and harmony and not to spread panic, fake news or hate speech.

    “Punjab Police is working to maintain law and order,” the Punjab Police tweeted. “All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice call, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be suspended from 18th March (12:00 hours) to 19th March (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety”.

    Reacting to Amritpal’s purported arrest, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said the man who “used to talk about taking up arms for Khalistan is today running away fearing the police”.

    “Does a Sikh ever run away? He would have faced the police if he had courage. He is running around in the streets like a jackal. I used to say earlier, too, that he has come to get our children killed. He is a man of (intelligence) agencies,” he said.

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    #Suspense #arrest #radical #Amritpal #Singh #Punjab #continues

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )