Ashish Ranjan
Amritpal Singh, a self-proclaimed radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathizer, was arrested by the Punjab Police following a dramatic pursuit, according to sources. A state police team comprised of personnel from seven districts had traced the separatist leader’s convoy as he travelled to the tehsil of Shahkot in Jalandhar.
As Amritpal’s associates began disseminating frantic videos urging supporters to travel to Shahkot, the Internet was shut down statewide until 12 p.m. tomorrow.
A large police contingent has been stationed outside Amritpal’s native village, Jallupur Khaira, in Amritsar district, in anticipation of unrest. According to sources, police and paramilitary forces have surrounded the village.
According to sources, the state administration waited until the G20 summit concluded before taking action against him.Amritpal is the leader of “Waris Punjab De,” a radical organisation founded by the late actor and activist Deep Sidhu, who was killed in a car accident in February of last year.As a result of prior knowledge of Amritpal Singh’s visit, police in Shahkot had closed all roads and erected enormous barricades.
The radical separatist leader, who has been active in Punjab for several years, is frequently accompanied by armed followers.On February 23, Amritpal Singh was at the centre of a massive protest against the apprehension of his key aide, accused kidnapper Lovepreet Singh. Lovepreet Singh’s supporters, armed with swords and firearms, breached barricades and stormed a police station in Ajnala, on the periphery of Amritsar, demanding his release. He later placed the responsibility for the violence on the Punjab Police.
During the conflict, six police officers, including a Superintendent of Police, were injured. The police have not yet disclosed whether a criminal complaint was filed against Amritpal for the violence.Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu responded to today’s police action by stating that the man who “used to talk about taking up arms for Khalistan is now fleeing in fear of the police.”
“Does a Sikh ever elude capture? He would have confronted the authorities if he had the courage to do so. He is wandering the streets like a gidad. (jackal). I previously stated that he has arrived to murder our offspring. “He is a member of the (intelligence) community,” he stated.
Recently, in response to pressure from the state’s opposition parties, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that his government was committed to sustaining law and order in the state and that no one would be permitted to disturb the hard-won peace.
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Earlier this month, Union Minister Anurag Thakur assailed the AAP government in Punjab, stating that law and order “collapsed” in the state after the formation of “one government” and suggesting that it “awakens” and takes action.
