Amritpal Singh has been taken to the Central Jail in Dibrugarh, Assam.
New Delhi:
Radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was on the run since March 18, today surrendered before the Punjab Police in Moga. He has been arrested by the police and taken to the Central Jail in Dibrugarh, Assam.
Confirming the arrest, the Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and not spread fake news. Police tweeted, “Amritpal Singh has been arrested in Moga, Punjab. Further details will be shared by Punjab Police. Urge citizens to maintain peace and harmony, don’t share any fake news, always verify.” and share.”
#Amritpal Singh He was arrested from Moga in Punjab.
Further information will be shared by #Punjab Police
Urge citizens to maintain peace and harmony, don’t share any fake news, always verify and share.
– Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 23, 2023
Police said the 29-year-old surrendered at a gurdwara in Rode village of Moga district. IG Punjab Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “We had specific information that Amritpal Singh Rode was present in the village, he was surrounded and had no chance to escape.”
Pictures of the fundamentalist preacher being taken into custody have surfaced on social media. He can be seen wearing a traditional white cloak.
Amritpal Singh was then transferred to Dibrugarh in Assam, where eight of his associates are already being held under the National Security Act, which allows detention without charge for up to a year.
Amritpal Singh, whom the government describes as a Khalistani-Pakistani agent, has been active in Punjab for the past few years and is often seen escorted by armed supporters. He claims to be a follower of Khalistani separatist and terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and is known among his supporters as “Bhindranwale 2.0”.
Amritpal Singh arrested in Moga, Punjab.
The Punjab Police launched a crackdown on Amritpal Singh and members of his organization ‘Waris Punjab De’ on 18 March, a month after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala.
In February, Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of whom brandished swords and guns, broke through barricades and stormed the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, clashing with police to demand the release of one of his associates.
Officials say the crackdown against them was a coordinated effort between Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Punjab, the Center and BJP-ruled Assam. Sources say that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann discussed the plan to arrest Amritpal Singh with Home Minister Amit Shah in a meeting on 2 March.
He and his associates were booked under several criminal cases relating to promoting enmity between classes, attempt to murder, assault on police personnel and obstructing public servants in lawful discharge of duty.
Intelligence agencies say that Amritpal Singh is procuring weapons from Pakistan through his spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence and is trying to divide Punjab on communal lines. Amritpal Singh was allegedly leading the youth towards “gun culture”.
