Khalistani Leader On The Loose, Punjab Cops’ Big Arms Haul From His Aides

1. Sources say a massive operation has been launched to nab Amritpal Singh, who was seen speeding away on a motorcycle in Jalandhar last evening.

2. Police have so far arrested 7 associates of Amritpal Singh, while several members of his organization ‘Waris Punjab De’ have been detained for questioning. Daljit Singh Kalsi, who handles the finances of the Khalistani leader, has also been arrested from Gurgaon in Haryana this morning.

3. Top police sources said four of his top aides have been taken to Dibrugarh in upper Assam in a special plane. They will be kept in the high security Dibrugarh Central Jail. Amritpal Singh’s father has also been detained for questioning.

4. Amritpal Singh’s car has also been seized by the police in Jalandhar. Several dozen live cartridges were found inside the vehicle.

5. A special team of the state police, comprising personnel from seven districts, had followed the convoy of the Khalistani leader while he was on his way to Jalandhar’s Shahkot tehsil yesterday. The radical preacher claiming to be a follower of terrorist Bhindranwale managed to escape the police trap on a motorcycle.

6. Authorities beefed up security at several places after his aides shared some videos on social media, claiming that policemen were following him, and urged his supporters to gather in Shahkot. The internet will remain suspended in the state till Monday afternoon to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors through social media, officials said.

7. Sources said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had discussed the plan to arrest Amritpal Singh with Home Minister Amit Shah in a meeting on March 2. Sources said the Center sent additional forces to Punjab before the police went looking for them on Saturday.

8. The action comes a month after Amritpal Singh and his supporters barged into a police station carrying swords and guns to release one of their associates. Six police officers were injured in the clash. After this incident, the Punjab government had to face heavy criticism for the law and order situation in the state.

9. Amritpal Singh heads “Waris Punjab De”, a radical organization started by actor and activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.

10. Amritpal Singh, often seen escorted by armed supporters, has been openly making statements declaring secession from India and creating Khalistan. Officials said Amritpal Singh maintained close links with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and terrorist groups based abroad.

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