FIR Against Amritpal Under Arms Act, 4 Aides Taken To Assam's Dibrugarh, Flag March In Jalandhar — Key Updates

Four aides of absconding separatist leader Amritpal Singh have been moved to Assam's Dibrugarh district. A separate FIR under Arms Act was registered against Amritpal Singh and his aides.

Punjab Police and RAF jointly conducted flag march in Jalandhar today as efforts to nab Amritpal Singh are underway ( Image Source :Twitter/@ANI )

New Delhi: As efforts to nab pro-Khalistan "Waris Punjab De" chief Amritpal Singh are underway, the Punjab Police along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) on Sunday conducted a flag march in Punjab's Jalandhar. 

News agency ANI shared a video of the police force and Rapid Action Force jointly conducting a flag march in Jalandhar as the security across the state has been enhanced to detain the separatist leader. 

#WATCH Punjab Police and Rapid Action Force conduct flag march in Jalandhar as efforts are underway to nab pro-Khalistan "Waris Punjab De" chief Amritpal Singh pic.twitter.com/qziNjIVgRG

— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2023

Speaking to ANI, Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that Amritpal Singh "was chased by police for about 20-25 kms but he managed to escape" on Saturday.

He further stated, "We've recovered a no. of weapons and 2 cars also seized." "Search is underway and we'll arrest him soon. Law and order will be maintained."

Here are the top developments:

• Four aides of absconding Sikh radical preacher Amritpal Singh have been moved to Assam's Dibrugarh district on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. "The four are currently kept in Dibrugarh central jail," PTI reported a police officer as saying.
  
  
• Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma said the transfer was as per "police-to-police cooperation", as per ANI.

  #WATCH | "This is police-to-police cooperation," says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on four suspected close aides of pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh taken to Dibrugarh by Punjab Police pic.twitter.com/zUnPSn40IJ

  — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2023

• Satinder Singh, the Superintendent Of Police, Rural Amritsar, said that seven persons were arrested on Saturday and a separate FIR under Arms Act was registered against Amritpal Singh and them. Amritpal is the main accused in the FIR. Six 12-bore weapons have been recovered from them and all weapons are illegal, he added.
  
  "The accused were arrested from near Mehatpur yesterday. The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Pal, Gurveer Singh, Baljinder Singh, Harwinder Singh, Gurlal Singh, Amandeep, and Savrit Singh. Amritpal escaped from the spot and our efforts are underway to nab him," ANI quoted him as saying.
  
  
• Vehicle used by chief Amritpal Singh to escape was also seized by police in Jalandhar. SSP Jalandhar Rural, Swarndeep Singh told ANI, "One car used in their (Amritpal Singh's) convoy seized, and one Kirpan and a .315 bore weapon with 57 live cartridges were recovered from it. The car was abandoned after use."
  
  "Law and order situation is normal in Jalandhar and the State. Police are committed to the safety of the public. We will take strict action against those who take law and order into their hands. Those found spreading rumors will be dealt with strictly."
   
• Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh on Sunday claimed that the 'Waris Punjab De' chief has already been arrested by the Punjab Police and that the police were "lying" that he was absconding. "We are sure that he has been arrested. We want the police to present him before the court to be able to take legal recourse," Amritpal's father alleged in an interview with ABP Sanjha.
  
  
• Punjab government has extended the suspension on all mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab till March 20 (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety, reported ANI citing Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Government of Punjab.
  
  
• Earlier in the day, Police arrested Daljeet Singh Kalsi alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi, an alleged advisor and financer of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh from Gurugram, news agency PTI reported citing a CCTV video.

  VIDEO | Amritpal Singh's friend Daljeet Singh Kalsi arrested from Gurugram (CCTV Footage) pic.twitter.com/oRj5vCQJHy

  — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 19, 2023

• On Saturday, Punjab Police launched a high-level operation to chase Amritpal Singh while he was reportedly on his way to Shri Muktsar Sahib. Six of his aides were arrested while Singh managed to flee. Police cordoned off Amritpal's cavalcade in Mehatpur in a bid to arrest him. However, Amritpal switched his vehicle at the spot where his cavalcade was intercepted and managed to dodge the police.
  
  
• Late Saturday evening, Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh was declared a fugitive by the Punjab Police, shortly after he was said to be on the run. 
  
  
• The same day, Punjab Police launched a massive statewide cordon and search operation in the state against the members of the outfit against whom several cases stand registered. 
  
  
• During the operation, a total of 78 persons were arrested by Punjab Police on Saturday, while, several others were detained for questioning. Nine weapons, including one .315 bore rifle, seven rifles of 12 bore, one revolver, and 373 live cartridges were recovered during the operation, the police said.