Express News Service
CHANDIGARH: With pro-Khalistani activist Amritpal Singh on the run, the Punjab Police registered two fresh cases again him and his aides, one for breaking barricades while he was fleeing on Saturday and the other on the recovery of a rifle from his abandoned car.
Also, 34 more people associated with him were arrested across Punjab on Sunday, taking the total number of such arrests so far to 112. For reasons that were not immediately clear, four of his close aides were taken to Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam by a special flight.
Amritpal’s cavalcade was intercepted while he was on his way to Muktsar Sahib to launch a Khalsa Wahir (religious procession) on Sunday. The elusive preacher, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet even as authorities stepped up security at several places in the northern state. Police had launched a “massive statewide cordon and search operations (CASO)” against elements of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD), headed by Amritpal, against whom several criminal cases had been registered.
READ MORE: Amritpal aka ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’: Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser
The state government extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services till Monday noon to keep social media out of reach of mischief makers. Besides, security forces took out flag marches at several places led by senior officials in the state. Also, peace committee meetings were organised in all districts.
Sources said the authorities have detained Amritpal’s alleged financer Daljeet Singh Kalsi in Gurugram. Kalsi is not just an actor and film producer, he is also said to be the self-styled preacher’s advisor. During the search operations, an abandoned ISUZU was found, which was Amritpal’s getaway vehicle.
A .315-bore rifle along with 57 live cartridges, a sword and a walkie-talkie set was recovered from the car. Amid claims in some sections that Amritpal is under illegal detention, the Punjab and Haryana HC issued a notice to the government based on a habeas corpus petition.
Flag brought down
A few Khalistani supporters brought down the Tricolour at the Indian High Commission in London on Sunday, demanding Amritpal Singh’s release. “The senior-most diplomat in the British High Commission was summoned and this issue was raised,’’ the MEA said
ALSO READ: UK envoy summoned as Khalistanis pull down tricolour at High Commission
CHANDIGARH: With pro-Khalistani activist Amritpal Singh on the run, the Punjab Police registered two fresh cases again him and his aides, one for breaking barricades while he was fleeing on Saturday and the other on the recovery of a rifle from his abandoned car.
Also, 34 more people associated with him were arrested across Punjab on Sunday, taking the total number of such arrests so far to 112. For reasons that were not immediately clear, four of his close aides were taken to Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam by a special flight.
Amritpal’s cavalcade was intercepted while he was on his way to Muktsar Sahib to launch a Khalsa Wahir (religious procession) on Sunday. The elusive preacher, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet even as authorities stepped up security at several places in the northern state. Police had launched a “massive statewide cordon and search operations (CASO)” against elements of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD), headed by Amritpal, against whom several criminal cases had been registered.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
READ MORE: Amritpal aka ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’: Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser
The state government extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services till Monday noon to keep social media out of reach of mischief makers. Besides, security forces took out flag marches at several places led by senior officials in the state. Also, peace committee meetings were organised in all districts.
Sources said the authorities have detained Amritpal’s alleged financer Daljeet Singh Kalsi in Gurugram. Kalsi is not just an actor and film producer, he is also said to be the self-styled preacher’s advisor. During the search operations, an abandoned ISUZU was found, which was Amritpal’s getaway vehicle.
A .315-bore rifle along with 57 live cartridges, a sword and a walkie-talkie set was recovered from the car. Amid claims in some sections that Amritpal is under illegal detention, the Punjab and Haryana HC issued a notice to the government based on a habeas corpus petition.
Flag brought down
A few Khalistani supporters brought down the Tricolour at the Indian High Commission in London on Sunday, demanding Amritpal Singh’s release. “The senior-most diplomat in the British High Commission was summoned and this issue was raised,’’ the MEA said
ALSO READ: UK envoy summoned as Khalistanis pull down tricolour at High Commission
