February 23 can be called a black day in history for the Punjab Police. On this day itself, the supporters of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh entered the Ajnala police station to free Lovepreet Singh. The Ajnala incident infuriated even the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government, while the Punjab Police could never have felt so helpless. While opposition parties criticized the Mann government, the chief minister said the situation was under control. A week later, on 2 March, CM Bhagwant Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, laying the groundwork for the arrest of Amripal Singh.
What happened on 23 February?
On 23 February, self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and entered a police station in Ajnala, seeking assurances from the police that their associates and kidnapping case accused would be arrested. Lovepreet Singh will be released. The Punjab Police said on 24 February that protesters used the holy Guru Granth Sahib as a shield and attacked police personnel in a cowardly manner, injuring six. Lovepreet Singh was released from jail on 24 February.
What happened in the meeting of Bhagwant Mann and Amit Shah on 2 March?
During the meeting, Mann discussed the law and order situation with Shah. Mann reportedly told Shah about the circumstances responsible for the Ajnala incident. The Chief Minister said that he has discussed the issue of drones and drugs on the border with the Home Minister. He said the issue of shifting of barbed wire along the border was also discussed. Shah then ordered the dispatch of around 1,900 personnel of the CRPF and its special anti-riot unit to Punjab to strengthen the security grid. Of the 18 conscripts, eight are drawn from the anti-riot Rapid Action Force (RAF) while the rest are regulars. To maintain the secrecy of the operation, it was said that the companies would assist the state police in security duties during the three-day Sikh festival of ‘Hola Mohalla’, celebrated between March 8-10.
Central government officials had said that the Union Home Ministry was “closely monitoring” the situation in Punjab in view of the renewed activities of some Khalistani sympathizers. Amritpal Singh, who returned from Dubai, was last year appointed chief of ‘Waris Punjab Day’, founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.
What happened after ‘Hola Mohalla’ that led to Amritpal’s arrest today?
The Central and Punjab government wanted the festival to take place in a peaceful manner. Meanwhile, the security agencies kept a watch on the activities of the Khalistani leader. Security agencies had planned to arrest the radical preacher after the G20 meeting that concluded yesterday. Today Punjab Police in collaboration with CRPF-RAF initiated action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Internet services were suspended across Punjab following the police action.
Amripal’s convoy was stopped by the police at Mahatpur village in Jalandhar district today. Some supporters of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them. A video also shows Amritpal sitting in a vehicle and one of his associates can be heard saying that the policemen are ‘after Bhai Saab (Amritpal). Another supporter shared a video in a field claiming that policemen were chasing him.
According to reports, Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police after a dramatic chase while his convoy was on its way to Shahkot tehsil of Jalandhar. Amritpal tried to escape but was chased, surrounded and arrested.