Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh, who was on the run for 37 days, was arrested in Punjab

Chandigarh: Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh arrested in Punjab. He had been absconding for 37 days since March 18, when he was caught by the police when he came to address the Gurudwara. He was lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh Central Jail.

Amritpal Singh (30) hails from Jallapur Khera village next to Amritsar in Punjab. After completing his schooling, he was working as a lorry driver in Dubai. He returned to Punjab last year and became the president of an organization called ‘Waris Punjab D’. Khalistan used to promote separatism on a religious basis. He was also trying to create a terrorist group called ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj’.

His supporter was arrested by Amritsar suburban police last February. Amritpal then besieged the police station with sword and gun wielding volunteers and rescued his supporter. This incident caused a great stir.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a serious consultation in this regard. Subsequently, 10 companies belonging to the Central Defense Forces were sent to Punjab.

On March 18, the police surrounded Amritpal Singh who was traveling in a car in Jalandhar district of Punjab. But he escaped from the police ring.

Following this, videos and photographs of him roaming around in various areas like Ludhiana, Patiala, Kurushetram and Delhi were published on social media. 9 people including Amritpal Singh’s close friend Babalpreet Singh were subsequently arrested.

A case was registered against Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act. Another 15 cases were registered against him. The court issued warrants for his arrest in these cases.

Amritpal Singh married Kirandeep Kaur from England on February 10. Kirandeep Kaur went to Amritsar airport on the 20th to go to London, the capital of England, while her husband was absconding. Immigration officials stopped him. He was interrogated for about 3 hours.

She was barred from boarding the plane and returned to her husband’s house in Jallapur Khera. The police intensified their investigation. As close friends were also arrested, Amritpal Singh’s absconding became problematic.

Arrested in Bhindaranwale Village: In this context, Amritpal Singh went to the Gurdwara of Khalistan separatist leader Bhindaranwale’s home village in Rod area yesterday midnight.

The police came to know about this and surrounded the road village in plain clothes. Amritpal Singh gave a spiritual address at the Gurudwara early yesterday morning. Unwilling to enter the gurdwara and arrest him, the police brought him out through the gurdwara administrators. Police arrested Amritpal Singh at 6.45 am. He was in hiding for 37 days from last March 18 and was caught by the police.

Confinement in Assam Jail: Amritpal Singh was taken from Road village to Bathinda airport. From there he was flown to Assam and lodged in the high security Dibrugarh Central Jail. 10 others, including his close friends Babalpreet Singh, are in the same jail.

Punjab Chief Minister comments: When Punjab Aam Aadmi Party Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said yesterday, “Action will be taken against whoever disturbs the peace of the country. We will not allow the seeds of hatred to be sown in the fertile soil of Punjab. We will not tolerate any action that harms peace,” he said.

Contact with Pakistan’s ISI: Actor and social activist Deep Sidhu launched ‘Waris Punjab D’. Following his death in a car accident, Amritpal Singh, a lorry driver in Dubai, was suddenly appointed as its chairman.

He returned to Punjab from Dubai in September last year. Khalistan separatist leader used to dress like Bhindaranwale and address spiritual gatherings like him. Amritpal Singh had links with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. ISI spies trained his supporters in Georgia. Amrit Paul and his supporters received Rs 40 crores from various countries. Sources in the Punjab Police said they are continuing to investigate the ISI link and illegal money transfer.