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PremiumKhalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, who heads the Waris Punjab De, is on the run since the Punjab police launched a massive manhunt for the outfit's members. Singh was on the radar of the Punjab police after he and his armed followers stormed a police station in Ajnala last month to release one of his aides. According to preliminary probe he visited a Gurdwara in Jalandhar district while on the run and escaped on a motorcycle after changing clothes.
On Saturday, the Punjab government launched a major crackdown against Waris Punjab De chief. The cops have arrested 154 members of an outfit headed by him. The police action came a day ahead of the start of Amritpal Singh's 'Khalsa Wahir' - a religious procession - which was to start from Muktsar district.
Security has been tightened at many places in Punjab with intensive vehicle checking.
Here are all the latest updates on Amritpal Singh's search operation.
As per Uttarakhand DGP, An alert has been issued in Dehradun, Haridwar& Udhamsinghnagar districts of the state as a precaution in view of the possibility of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh entering the state. Intensive checking being done on the borders of all 3 dists and in other areas.
Pro-Khalistan supporters and associates of Amritpal Singh were shifted out of Punjab after Central Intelligence agencies raised concerns over possible jailbreak and repeat of the Ajnala incident.
Thousands of Amritpal's supporters had entered the Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23 this year to free a member, who had been arrested in an abduction case.
A source in Intelligence agencies has confirmed that after they had a meeting with state police officers and shared their intelligence report on arrested 'Waris Punjab De' (WPD) associates under the National Security Act (NSA) and recommended shifting them out of Punjab. Associates of Amritpal Singh have been shifted to the Dibrugarh jail in Assam due to security reasons.
Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill on Thursday said that a total of 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which, 30 have been found in substantive criminal activities, while, remaining are under preventive arrest.
"Police teams are doing thorough screening of all the arrested persons and soon they will be released from police custody," he said.
The IGP said that this operation was carried out on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with an aim to save the innocent youth of Punjab from playing into the hands of Anti-National Forces.
Punjab Police Thursday flagged a cross-border link and involvement of radical preacher Amritpal Singh in "anti-national" activities as it sounded an alert about the fugitive Khalistan preacher in all the states. As it happened, a part of a CCTV footage surfaced on Thursday showing Amritpal wearing a shirt and trousers while holding an umbrella in Haryana's Shahabad to hide from police.
In another development, Haryana Police nabbed a woman for allegedly harbouring Amritpal Singh and his associate Papalpreet Singh at her home in the state's Kurukshetra district.
Four persons were arrested on Thursday, a day after a rally was taken out in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur by a group of people allegedly in support of wanted pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, an official said.
Based on the examination of CCTV footage and video clips of the statements given by people involved in the rally, a first information report (FIR) was registered at Civil Lines police station, Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Prasant Agrawal told PTI.
Four Raipur residents, identified as Diler Singh Randhawa (46), Manindarjeet Singh alias Mintu Sandhu (40), Harinder Singh Khalsa (44) and Harpreet Singh Randhawa alias Chintu (42), were arrested for allegedly taking out a foot march in support of Amritpal Singh, he said.
CCTV footage from near the house in Kurukshetra shows an individual walking under an umbrella - identified by officials as Amritpal Singh. Click here to read
Punjab Police's apparent miscalculation allowed radical preacher Amritpal Singh to avoid imminent arrest resulting in a chase that is still on since he escaped on March 18.
The police were ready with their arrangements at only one place and did not capture him in his village, they said. This was a major miscalculation on the part of the state police, the officials said while piecing together the turn of events since February 23.
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing manhunt for fugitive pro-Khalistan leader and radical preacher Amritpal Singh, Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill, on Thursday revealed that the Waris Punjab De chief's last location was in Haryana.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday, the IGP said, "We are still actively searching for Amritpal Singh and have come to know that its last location was in Haryana. We have taken a woman named Baljeet Kaur into custody. Amritpal stayed at this woman's house in Kurukshetra (Haryana) and the Waris Punjab De chief and his close aide had been in touch with her for the last two-and-a-half years."
A woman has been nabbed for harbouring radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Haryana's Shahabad, police said on Thursday.
Mobile and internet services will remain suspended in Punjab's Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts till Friday noon, according to officials.
Amid heavy security, seven associates of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh brought to Amritsar's Baba Bakala Court.
They were earlier sent to police custody till March 23.
According to the police, fugitive Amritpal and his aides hid in a gurudwara and overpowered a Granthi and forced him into giving them his clothes.
"They spent about 40-45 minutes there. They called for bikes and escaped," he added.
Police said, during the investigation, it was found that they had called a man called Gaurav Gora for the motorcycles.
"The motorcycle was registered in the name of his father," SSP Jalandhar Rural, Swarandeep Singh said.
According to a preliminary probe, police said he visited a Gurdwara in Jalandhar district while on the run and escaped on a motorcycle after changing clothes.
According to CCTV visuals, Amritpal Singh was seen escaping in an SUV in Jalandhar on March 18. He is still on the run.
Maharashtra Police issued an alert over Amritpal Singh in some districts including Nanded. Police said the movement of everyone arriving at and leaving Nanded is being monitored. Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad is also on alert, said the state police.
Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Wednesday amid heightened security presence. The protesters were heavily barricaded across the road with uniformed police officers present on the spot.
Anti-India protests by Khalistanis behind Police barricade. Metropolitan Police on guard at Indian High Commission.
A rally was taken out in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur on Wednesday by a group of people in support of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, leading the police to serve a notice to the organisers of the event which had no prior permission from authorities. The rally started from Telibandha and comprised a small group of people visibly belonging to the Sikh community, culminated in front of the AAP office located in nearby Panchsheel Nagar. The demonstrators also burnt an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that ever since the new government has been formed in Punjab, the situation has been continuously deteriorating.
"Punjab was peaceful for years but since the new government has been formed, the condition is continuously deteriorating. The way incidents have happened is very unfortunate because it is a border state, and this type of incident cannot be ignored," Baghel said.
A fresh FIR has been filed against Amritpal Singh for extortion and rioting following a complaint by the 'granthi' of a gurdwara in Jalandhar where the pro-Khalistan preacher changed his clothes and fled on a bike to escape the police crackdown on his outfit.
Police said the fugitive spent around 45 minutes at a gurdwara in Nangal Ambian village.
Ranjit Singh, the granthi (Sikh priest), said in his complaint with police that the Waris Punjab De chief and his three aides entered the gurdwara and demanded clothes of his son at gunpoint to change his appearance.
"When Police chased them, they escaped to a Gurudwara &overpowered a Granthi into giving clothes. They spent 40-45 min there. They called for bikes&escaped," SSP Jalandhar Rural, Swarandeep Singh on what transpired at Nangal Ambian Gurudwara where Amritpal Singh fled to with aides.
Punjab Police has booked 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh and his four accomplices for extortion and rioting at Shahkot police station.
“We got to know today morning when the police came that Amritpal along with his associates was here in the village on March 18. He changed clothes at local gurudwara, had food&then went away on motorcycle. Babaji who's being questioned by police now had admitted that Amritpal came here", the eyewitness told news agency ANI.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday praised the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab as well as the Centre for investigation against punjab-de" Waris Punjab De leader Amritpal Singh.
The Punjab Police on Tuesday released 7 photos of the fugitive radical leader and said he might have changed his appearance.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) yesterday filed its first Chargesheet against 12 accused, found to have links with pro-Khalistani outfits and Pak-based conspirators, in one of the three terror-gangster nexus cases it is investigating.
In recent days, small groups of Singh’s supporters vandalized the Indian High Commission in London, pulling down the national flag and briefly flying the orange and blue flags of the Khalistan movement. A similar incident took place at the Indian consulate in San Francisco.
Ministry of External Affairs has formally complained to the US and UK of inadequate security for its embassies. India’s federal government has said it’s maintaining a close watch on the activities of various activist groups at home and aboard.
The bike on which 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh fled has been recovered by police, Jalandhar SSP Swarnadeep Singh said on Wednesday.
Punjab Police on Wednesday reached the residence of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh's in Jallupur Khera village, Amritsar.
Bathinda's ADGP told media that the police arrested 70 people and sent them to jail. He added, “We are on alert. The situation is peaceful. Flag march being done to instil confidence among people. People have supported us a lot and hope they will continue to cooperate with us," Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said.
Punjab's Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa alleged there is a conspirancy that is why Amritpal Singh escaped. “He (Amritpal Singh) could have been arrested from his village in Amritsar but the operation was done in Jalandhar area in view of the Jalandhar by-elections. All this happened under a strategy...We came here to demand his (CM Mann's) resignation," he said.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Brar has raised questions over Amritpal Singh's escape. He said, "How Amritpal escaped in the presence of police officials? It means Amritpal was aware of the plan. I doubt the intention of both the Punjab and Central government. There is some conspiracy behind it. Action should be taken against those involved in anti-national activities and talk about Khalistan but action shouldn't be taken against innocent youth of Punjab".
Punjab police have arrested 154 people for disturbing 'peace and harmony' in the state. A lookout circular (LOC) and non-bailable warrant (NBW) have been issued against Amritpal Singh, who remains a fugitive and efforts are being made to arrest him.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took the Punjab Government to task over its inability to arrest Amritpal despite having 80,000-strong police force and five-six FIRs having been registered in the matter, according to tribune report
Punjab Police issued a lookout circular (LOC) and non-bailable warrant (NBW) against 'Waris Punjab De' chief.
Besides, the Punjab police have also released his photos in order to arrest him swiftly.
"There are several pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attires. We are releasing all of these pictures. I request you display them so that people can help us to arrest him in this case," Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sukhchain Singh Gill said yesterday.
The Uttarakhand Police conducted a combing operation at gurdwaras, hotels and in areas on the Indo-Nepal border in Udham Singh Nagar district in search of Amritpal Singh. Intelligence agencies are also monitoring the situation. A close vigil is being kept on the India-Nepal border so that he does not escape to Nepal.
Punjab Police has launched a manhunt against pro-Khalistani self-styled preacher Amritpal Singh and have also asked people's help to arrest him. He was successful in giving police a slip on Saturday, by switching from the Brezza car to a motorbike.
The CCTV footage of the incident is also released now where Amritpal Singh can be seen switching his vehicles and fleeing with a person on a motorbike.
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Radical preacher Amritpal Singh changed clothes, switched from car to motorcycle to escape arrest: Punjab Police.
The Punjab Police on Tuesday released pictures of radical preacher Amritpal Singh. "There are several pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attires. We are releasing all of these pictures. I request you display them so that people can help us to arrest him in this case," says Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said.
Singh who is still at large, has given the Punjab Police the slip for the fourth Day in a row. While several other supporters of Amritpal has been arrested and taken to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, Singh has allegedly fled in a Mercedes SUV that was also allegedly gifted to him by drug dealers.
Punjab police on Tuesday shut down a drug de-addiction centre run by 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh in the State's Amritsar district.
The facilty was operating in Jallupur Khera in Amritsar.
Gurmukh Singh, the caretaker of the centre said, "Police arrived here and conducted a search. They asked us to shut down the centre. Seventy people who had arrived to receive treatment were sent back."
The caretaker claimed that the police had found nothing at the centre and that only de-addiction treatments were given at the facility.
Three more associates of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, including his uncle Harjit Singh, have been brought to the high-security Dibrugarh jail on Tuesday, an Assam Police official said.
Altogether seven members linked to Amritpal Singh’s 'Waris Punjab De' (WPD) have been brought here since March 19, including Harjit Singh who was brought in the early hours of Tuesday.
Punjab government on Tuesday informed Punjab and Haryana High Court that the strict National Security Act has been imposed on radical preacher Amritpal Singh.
In a hearing related to the habeas corpus petition, which requested the preacher's appearance in court, Justice N S Shekhawat reprimanded the state government for Amritpal Singh evading the police on Saturday and referred to it as an intelligence failure.
AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Punjab Government is not afraid to take stringent measures to curb criminals activities in the state.
“When we came to power in Punjab, people said they (AAP) can work in the fields of education, health and power, but handling law and order situation will be tough. The system we inherited from previous governments showed that criminals and gangsters were provided political protection. But our government is an honest one. We are taking strict action against such elements," Kejriwal said.
Two more associates of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh brought to Dibrugarh. They will be shifted to Central Jail, Dibrugarh, news agency ANI reported
Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday rapped Punjab government over preacher Amritpal Singh giving police a slip. According to news agency PTI, the high court has called it a intelligence failure
International Borders with Nepal, Pakistan among others have been put on alert after the Centre circulated a message to the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) considering the possibility that Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh might escape country.
The MHA has asked the chiefs of both the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to direct their forces deputed on the International Borders to be on alert amid the ongoing hunt against the Khalistani radical Amritpal Singh whose hunt entered the fourth day on Tuesday, said top government sources.
In last few days, some elements were talking to spoil the environment of Punjab with the help of foreign powers & were giving hateful speeches. Action has been taken against them and they have been arrested and strict punishment will be given to them: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on action taken against Amritpal Singh & his associates
The mobile internet services will be operational in many cities of Punjab after 12 noon on Tuesday, the Punjab government informed. "It is made clear that mobile internet services in all the remaining areas of the State (except Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Subdivision Ajnala, YPS Nagar of Mohali and areas adjacent to Airport Road) should start functioning normally from 12.00 noon today i.e., 21.03.2023", the department of Home Affairs and Justice, Government of Punjab informed in a statement on Tuesday. The notification also added that the Broadband Services have not been suspended so that online Banking facilities, hospital services and other essential services are not disrupted.
Baljit Singh Ex-President, Haryana SGPC has spoken on recent violence in US and UK. In a video message, he said that no such steps should be taken that will affect Sikh community across the world.
All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, shall continue to remain suspended in the districts Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Sub-Division Ainala in Amritsar, areas adjoining YPS chowk and Airport Road both in SAS Nagar, till March 23 (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety: Punjab Govt
Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh's uncle Harjeet Singh was brought to Central Jail in Dibrugarh on Tuesday.
According to sources, Harjeet Singh, uncle to Amritpal Singh was brought from Punjab to the military airport in Jorhat, from where he was brought to the Dibrugarh Jail under security by road.
Along with Harjeet Singh, many other Khalistan supporters have been brought to Dibrugarh jail, the sources said.
Earlier, four pro-Khalistani members were flown to Dibrugarh on Sunday and lodged in Central Jail, Dibrugarh.
