New Delhi: Punjab Police Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill on Monday said that there was a "strong suspicion" on the angle of foreign funding and ISI in the Amritpal Singh case and added that six criminal cases have been registered against the pro-Khalistan outfit.
Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh, the top cop said Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh is still abscoding and the Punjab police is making efforts to nab him.
Flag marches are being conducted and peace committee meeting are being held in all the districts and the condition in Punjab is stable, he added.
The six criminal cases registered against Waris Punjab De includes charges of creating disharmony, obstruction to police perosnnel and attack on police personnel, Gill said.
So far, 114 elements who attempted to disturb peace and harmony, have been rounded up and arrested. 78 of them were arrested on the first day, 34 on day 2, and two others were arrested last night. 10 weapons recovered, he added.
According to the IGP, foreign funding appears the main source of funding. He said they received funding in small amounts. Funding for vehicles is also being checked as Amritpal's supported could not afford the vehicles they were using, the senior official stated.
"We have a very strong suspicion of an ISI angle, based on the facts and circumstances that have come to light so far. We also have a very strong suspicion of foreign funding. Going by the circumstances, it seems that ISI is involved and there is foreign funding as well," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
"The bulletproof jackets and rifles that have been recovered and the gate (of the house) of the chief (Amritpal Singh) had AKF written on them. There was an attempt to form a Jathebandi called 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj'," the Punjab IG further mentioned.
It was informed that four detainees were sent to Assam's Dibrugarh after custody. They are Daljeet Kalsi, Basant Singh, Gurmeet Singh Bhukhanwala and Bhagwant Singh. One more detainee, Harjeet Singh - the uncle of Amritpal Singh is en route to Dibrugarh.
IG Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the National Security Act has been invoked on the aforementioned accused. When asked about it with respect to Amritpal Singh, he said it could "likely" be invoked when he is arrested.
Mobile Internet & SMS Services Remain Suspended In Punjab
Meanwhile, suspension of mobile internet services was extended till tomorrow in the state, said Department of Home Affairs & Justice, Government of Punjab. All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice calls, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be further suspended from 20/3/2023 to 21/3/2023, read the order.
The absconding Khalistani leader's uncle and driver surrendered before the police on Sunday night, said Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police Swarndeep Singh this morning.
As per inputs from ABP Sanjha, Amritpal's uncle Harjeet Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered before the police near a gurdwara near Shahkot in Punjab. They had absconded together with Amritpal in Mercedes and the police are negotiating with Amritpal's uncle for his surrender.
The police have also recovered .32 bore pistol and 1 lakh rupees from Amritpal's uncle Harjeet Singh. As per ABP Sanjha, his uncle is in talks with a DIG-level officer for negotiating Amritpal's surrender.
Waris De Punjab's legal advisor Imaan Singh Khara has claimed the radical leader has been arrested by Punjab Police in Shahkot and alleged that the Police wanted to kill Amritpal in a "fake encounter".
Khara filed a writ petition with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, citing Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life. He claimed that the police cannot beat up anyone without following the proper court procedures. "Today I filed a criminal writ petition (Imaan Singh Khara vs State of Punjab) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This is a Habeas Corpus writ petition," he was quoted as saying by ANI.