After a month-long chase, Waris Punjab De leader and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh surrendered before the Punjab police and was arrested from the Moga district on Sunday morning, Indian Express reported.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Special Director General of Police (Internal Security) R N Dhoke said, “Amritpal has been arrested from Moga district today morning..” Singh will be shifted to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail, where nine of his aides, including Papalpreet and Daljit Singh Kalsi, are currently lodged.
Amritpal Singh was arrested from Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Khalsa of Rode village in Moga, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Amritpal had been on the run since March 18, when Punjab Police launched a major crackdown on members of his ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit.
n a video taken shortly before he was arrested, Amritpal justified his decision to evade the Punjab police, stating that the last one month “exposed” the real face of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government. “I may be an accused in the court but not an accused in the court of Almighty,” he said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Jasvir Rode, Bhindranwale’s nephew, said: “Amritpal had informed police last night itself that he will surrender today morning after paying obeisance at the gurdwara. He also addressed sangat for few mins before surrendering. Police took him away around 7 am. The team was led by IG intelligence.”
Soon after his arrest, Punjab Police urged people across the state to maintain peace and not share fake news. “#AmritpalSingh arrested in Moga, Punjab. Further details will be shared by #PunjabPolice. Urge citizens to maintain peace and harmony. Don’t share any fake news, always verify and share,” it said in a tweet.
The police initially suspected that Amritpal Singh would surrender at the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda on Baisakhi (April 14). However, the police prevented his plans by increasing security at Takht as well as at the Golden Temple and Anandpur Sahib.
According to police sources, Singh intended to surrender in front of a large crowd, however, the plan did not materialize. He was also expected to surrender at the Golden Temple on March 28, but the plan was foiled and he managed to escape, sources said.
On April 21, Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped from boarding a flight to London at the Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport and sent back to her husband’s home in Amritsar’s Jallupur Khera.
The fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher is facing at least six cases now even as Punjab Police have invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against him. The cases have been registered in Amritsar Rural and Jalandhar Rural police districts. His aides and supporters also face multiple cases.
