Security Beefed Up In Punjab's Bathinda After Amritpal's Rumoured Call For Baisakhi Congregation

Security arrangements in Punjab's Bathinda have been stepped up after Amritpal urged followers to spread the word for the big congregation on Baisakhi to discuss issues before the Sikh community.

Ahead of Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab, security has been beefed up in Bathinda. This comes after an unverified video of Khalistani preacher and 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh urging followers to spread the word for the big congregation on Baisakhi to discuss issues before the Sikh community, as reported by the news agency ANI. Additional Director General of Police, Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, said the security arrangement is a positive message that the situation is normal in Punjab.

Speaking on the security arrangements in Bathinda ADGP said, "We have made elaborate security arrangements. We are here for the convenience of people. We want more and more people to visit the state on Baisakhi. It will send out a positive message that the situation is normal in Punjab. No restrictions have been imposed," as quoted by ANI

Earlier, on April 2, amid speculations that Amritpal was likely to surrender at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said that if the Khalistan leader wants to surrender, they will help him do so in accordance with the law.

Earlier, the fugitive Khalistan leader purportedly appeared in a new video saying he was not "a fugitive" and will soon "appear in front of the world". Amritpal said those who think that he ran away or left his friends should "get that thing" out of their minds. The KhaIistan leader, who was declared a fugitive by Punjab Police, said no one should have any apprehension that he ran away from his people. The crackdown came almost over three weeks after Amritpal's supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23 demanding the release of one of his close aides, Lovepreet Toofan.