New Delhi: More drama is coming from the pursuit of Khalistan sympthaiser after reports are coming out that police could not arrest him after all. The radical leader had given Punjab Police a slip. Only hours ago there were reports that he was arrested by the state police, involving police personnel from seven districts.
Now, the leader is on the run, but at least 78 people were detained and are being questioned, a new update by the NDTV suggested.
The internet in the area has been suspended till Sunday noon, while heavy police force has been deployed in the Moga district in the state, NDTV reported.
Police have requested locals to maintain peace and harmony, adding not to panic or spread fake news as well as hate speech.
According to sources, the government was waiting for the G20 event to end to make a move against Singh, a self-styled preacher.
Amritpal is the leader of "Waris Punjab De", the radical organisation started by actor Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.
It is learnt that police chased Amritpal Singh and his associates, surrounding him at Megatpur village in Jalandhar. Police closed roads towards Shahkot tehsil, where Sing is surrounded by large barricades. They received intel early that Singh would visit the place.
Amritpal Singh has been active in Punjab for a few years, and he is always accompanied by armed supporters. On February 23, he was the centre of a massive protest launched against his main aide and kidnapping accused, Lovepreet Singh. Singh's supporters barged into a police station in Ajnala, armed with swords and guns, and demanded the release of Lovepreet. The mob extracted an assurance from the police there that Lovepreet would be released. Amritpal later blamed the state police for the violence that happened then.
When six police officers, including a Superintendent, got injured in the case, the police have not yet revealed whether an FIR has been registered in the case.
The opposition parties, BJP and Congress, rose to the occasion and hit at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party to claim that the law and order situation collapsed in the state.