Amritpal Singh came to the fore after the Punjab Police created a pressure situation by conducting extensive raids by Punjab Police and Central intelligence agencies
Our Bureau
New Delhi
After a chase of over a month, ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab Police in Moga on Sunday and later shifted to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
Now, central intelligence agencies are interrogating him. The self-styled preacher was evading Punjab Police since March 18. Nine of Amritpal’s aides who were arrested earlier were also lodged in Dibrugarh jail.
Earlier on Sunday, the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) said that National Security Act (NSA) warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and those warrants have been executed this morning. “NSA warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and those warrants have been executed today morning…Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Punjab Police around 6.45 am today morning in the village Rode,” said Sukhchain Singh Gill.
He said that the Khalistan sympathizer and radical preacher was arrested in a joint operation by Punjab police and the intelligence wing. “Amritpal Singh has been sent to Dibrugarh, Assam and further action will be taken as per law and order in the case. A warning has been issued against those elements trying to jeopardize the peace and harmony of the state,” he said.
“…Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab Police at around 6.45 am today morning in village Rode. A joint operation was conducted by Amritsar Police and the Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police. He was located in village Rode based on operational inputs by Punjab Police. To maintain sanctity, the Police didn’t enter Gurudwara Sahib. He has been taken to Dibrugarh under NSA…”, the IGP said.
Earlier, the radical leader had been declared a “fugitive” as he was on the run earlier in March. The crackdown came almost over three weeks after Amritpal’s supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides, Lovepreet Toofan.
“Amritpal has been kept in a separate cell, distant from his accomplices who are also in same jail after they were arrested during Punjab Police crackdown,” a senior official said. The official added that an Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) team and other Central Intelligence agencies would question Amritpal.
Now, it has been revealed that Amritpal Singh came to the fore after the Punjab Police created a pressure situation by conducting extensive raids. According to the officials, the arrest was done by combined efforts of the Punjab Police and Central intelligence agencies.
But the father of the radical preacher Tarsem Singh said Amritpal was working to save people from the drug menace in the State. “Through TV we came to know that he surrendered before the Police. We too wanted the same because people were being harassed due to him. We will fight the case. The entire community should fight it. He was working to save people from the drug menace; an offer has been made to us for it…” Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh said.
Amritpal Singh’s mother Balwinder Kaur said, “We saw the news and came to know that he has surrendered. I felt proud that he surrendered like a warrior…We will fight a legal battle and we will also go and meet him at the earliest.”
Earlier in March, some associates of Amritpal Singh were shifted out of Punjab after Central Intelligence agencies raised concerns over possible jailbreak and repeat of the Ajnala incident.
Meanwhile, the family members of the arrested members of ‘Waris Punjab De’, lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh Central Jail, arrived here from Punjab on Thursday and met them in jail. A 10-member group comprising family members of eight ‘Waris Punjab De’ members, lodged in Dibrugarh jail, arrived here from Punjab on Thursday. The members of the group include kin of Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh Bajeke, Basant Singh, Gurinderpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh. The family members arrived to meet the jailed ‘Waris Punjab De’ members.
The group was led by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee executive member and eminent lawyer Bhagwant Singh Sialka. Notably, 10 ‘Waris Punjab De’ members including Amritpal Singh are lodged in Dibrugarh jail under National Security Act (NSA).
