Amritpal Singh case: Khalistani leader declared fugitive, Punjab Police arrest 78 people, recover 8 rifles

Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh is still on the run and is declared a fugitive by the Punjab Police on Saturday late evening. A massive statewide operation was launched by the state Police after the radical Sikh preacher was last seen speeding away on a motorcycle last evening in Jalandhar.

The Punjab Police conducted a search operation to nab the Waris Punjab De chief and during the operation, it arrested 78 people of the outfit against whom several cases are registered. Security has been tightened across the state to nab the Khalistani sympathizer.

Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said Amritpal Singh’s two cars were seized and gunmen nabbed. He said they have also checked if the firearms of his security escorts had been procured legally. The Punjab Police also recovered nine weapons, including 8 rifles and one revolver during the operation.

Security was amped up at several places in the state. The internet and SMS services in the state have also been suspended after his aides shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them, and urged his supporters to gather at Jalandhar’s Shahkot.

The Punjab Police have assured the citizens that the situation is under control and urged the citizens not to believe in rumours.

Heavy security arrangement has been made outside Amritpal Singh’s village, Jallupur Khaira, in Amritsar as well.

The crackdown comes one month after Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed a police station brandishing weapons and swords to demand the release of one of his aides. Six police officials were wounded during the incident.

After the incident, the Punjab government received a lot of criticism for the state’s law and order condition.

Amritpal Singh heads a radical organization Waris Punjab De after his founder and actor Deep Sidhu died in a car accident last year in February.