Punjab police arrest fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh after 36 days’ chase

CHANDIGARH: After a chase of 36 days, the Punjab police on Sunday finally arrested fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher and ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit head Amritpal Singh from Rode village of Moga district in the state. Rode is native village of late militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.
A senior Punjab police officer involved in the operation since March 18 said, “Punjab police have arrested Amritpal Singh.He is being taken to Dibrugarh jail in Assam since he has been detained under the National Security Act(NSA).” He said other relevant details will be shared with the media soon.
However, Rode village natives claim that Amritpal had reached the village on Saturday night and after offering prayers in the morning and addressing the people in the morning, he surrendered before the police.
It was on March 18 that the Punjab police carried out a massive operation in Jalandhar district to nab Amritpal in the morning when he was on his way to Shahkot but he escaped along with his aide Papalpreet Singh. Total 78 people were arrested and nine weapons were recovered with ammunition by the police that day. Mobile internet services were suspended across Punjab.
The Punjab police have invoked stringent provisions of the NSA against Amritpal’s nine aides – Papalpreet Singh, Daljeet Kalsi, Basant Singh, Gurmeet Singh Bhukhanwala, Bhagwant Singh alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke, Harjeet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Gurinder Pal Singh and Varinder Singh who have been sent to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
Jasbir Singh Rode, former jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib (highest temporal seat of Sikhs), said, "Amritpal Singh has not been arrested but he has surrendered at his own will. He had come to Rode village yesterday and had informed the police on Saturday night itself that he would surrender at 7am on Sunday.” He further added that Punjab police’s IG intelligence among other police officials had come to the village to take Amritpal.
As per inputs, Amritpal would be flown to Dibrugarh from Bathinda airport.