With the Punjab Police on the lookout for radical Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, Congress Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann not to impose draconian laws on the ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD) chief. In a tweet, Khair said that the government should blame him for the Ajnala incident and should not give a wrong message to the Sikh youth. Amritpal Singh is absconding, while 78 of his supporters have been arrested by the state police in a day-long crackdown.
“I request Bhagwant Mann not to charge Amritpal Singh under draconian laws like UAPA or NSA as there is no terror activity involved. He can be charged in Ajnala incident otherwise it will be assumed that you are a Sikh. Youths are surrendering to central agencies! Why no action against Bishnoi till now?” Khaira said.
The Congress MLA’s remarks came after the Punjab government launched a major crackdown against pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh. However, the elusive preacher himself eluded police when his convoy was stopped in Jalandhar district and escaped the police trap, even as authorities tightened security at several places and internet services were suspended in the state till Sunday afternoon. Shut down
The police said it has launched a “massive statewide cordon and search operation (CASO)” in the state against elements of ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD), headed by Singh, against whom several criminal cases were registered.
A total of 78 people have been arrested so far during the operation, while several others have been detained for questioning. A police spokesman said Amritpal Singh and others are absconding and a massive operation has been launched to nab them.
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).
Nine weapons including one .315 bore rifle, seven 12 bore rifles, one revolver and 373 live cartridges of different calibers have been recovered so far during the statewide operation, police said.
The police spokesperson said that the elements of the WPD are involved in four criminal cases relating to promoting disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, assault on police personnel and obstructing public servants in the lawful discharge of their duties.
Read also: Amritpal Singh maintaining close links with Pakistan’s ISI, terror groups: Sources
He said that an FIR has been lodged against WPD elements for the attack on Ajnala police station on February 24. Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke barricades and stormed the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, clashing with police demanding the release of an aide of Amritpal. Following the incident, in which six policemen, including a Superintendent of Police rank officer, were injured, the AAP government in the state faced severe criticism and was accused of bowing down to extremists.
Heavy deployment of security forces has been done near Amritpal Singh’s native village Jallupur Kheda village in Amritsar for the operation.
Amritpal Singh, who returned from Dubai, was last year made the head of ‘Waris Punjab Day’, founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.
Officials said Amritpal Singh maintained close links with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and terrorist groups based abroad. Sources said Amitpal Singh, who also issued a veiled threat to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is trying to destabilize the situation in Punjab and is attracting Sikh youth towards his organization ‘Waris Punjab De’ .
Meanwhile, the Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and harmony. It said in a tweet, “Request all citizens to maintain peace and harmony. Punjab Police is working to maintain law and order. Citizens are requested not to panic or spread fake news or hate speech.” ”
Earlier this month, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed with him the prevailing law and order situation in the border state.
The Center had sent around 1,900 personnel of the CRPF and its special anti-riot unit RAF to strengthen the security grid. Officials said the Union Home Ministry is “closely monitoring” the situation in Punjab in view of the renewed activities of some Khalistani sympathizers.
They said the radical preacher is believed to be a close associate of UK-based Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, the man behind his meteoric rise.
Khanda is a trusted lieutenant of Paramjit Singh Pamma, leader of the banned group Babbar Khalsa International, which is involved in radicalizing Sikh youth. He said the trio was aiming to destabilize Punjab by ideologically indoctrinating the Sikh youth with extremist ideas.
In February this year, a man complained at the Ajnala police station that he was abducted and beaten up by associates of the fundamentalist preacher. An FIR was lodged against Amritpal Singh and his six accomplices. Police later arrested Lovepreet Singh Toofan, a close aide of Amritpal, in this case.
Toofan’s arrest prompted Amritpal to issue a warning to the police to withdraw the case against him, and matters turned ugly when hundreds of his supporters broke police barricades and entered the police compound armed with automatic guns and sharp weapons. Went.
Toofan was released under duress, but only after the police informed the court that they would investigate the matter further. (With PTI inputs)