New Delhi: Pro-Khalistan outfit, Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh was declared fugitive on late Saturday evening by the Punjab Police, shortly after he was said to be on the run. On Saturday, the Punjab Police had launched a massive statewide cordon and search operation in the state against the members of the outfit against whom several cases stand registered.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has been declared a fugitive. His two cars were seized and gunmen nabbed. We also checked if the firearms of his security escorts had been procured legally.
“A case has been registered. Punjab Police have launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underway," Chahal added.
Here are the top developments.
- Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh on Saturday said that the police conducted searches at his residence for 3- 4 hours but did not find “anything illegal” adding, they had no knowledge about the radical leader’s whereabouts.
- Police should have arrested him before he left home," said Tarsem Singh in an interview with ANI on Saturday.
- Security has been enhanced across the state to nab the Khalistani sympathiser. As per the visuals shared by ANI, police were checking vehicles on roads.
- Security has also been beefed up outside Amritpal Singh’s residence in Amritsar’s Jallupur Khera village.
- As per the police, 78 people have been arrested in the crackdown so far.
- Nine weapons including 8 rifles, one revolver have been recovered during the operation, the police said.
- Internet services remained suspended across the state on Saturday and the Punjab Police urged people to maintain peace and harmony and not to spread fake news, panic or hate speech. "Punjab Police is working to maintain law and order," the Punjab Police tweeted.