Amritpal still on the run, four close aides arrested, flown to Dibrugarh

Punjab Police personnel at the Central Jail in Dibrugarh, Assam, on Sunday. (PTI)

While Punjab police said Amritpal Singh, a declared fugitive, continued to be on the run after giving them the slip Saturday, Waris Punjab De alleged he had been illegally detained and filed a habeas corpus petition on Sunday to produce him before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A bench headed by Justice NS Shekhawat issued a notice to the Punjab government and the police to respond by March 21.

Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh, who claimed to be with him when the police were chasing them Saturday, said he thought the police wanted to stop them from undertaking Khalsa Vaheer — a religious procession that promotes baptism — in Muktsar. He said he stepped out of the car to talk to the police, and when he returned, Amritpal and his two security guards were not present in the car. “I have seen some videos and believe he has been arrested,” he said.

When contacted, Harjit Singh, told The Indian Express just past midnight Sunday, “I have been in touch with the police.” He claimed he may be picked up by the police soon.

An officer in a Central security establishment said Punjab police was advised to send Amritpal’s close associates to jails in north-eastern and southern states to avoid any untoward incidents like the one in Ajnala. Amritpal and hundreds of his supporters had stormed the police station in Ajnala and clashed with personnel in February to secure the release of an associate.

“In a meeting held in the Ministry of Home Affairs recently, it was suggested to Punjab police to keep them in jails in states which are far off, have less Sikh population, and have a strong leadership,” said the officer.

Meanwhile, as the hunt for Amritpal continued for the second day, district police chiefs carried out flag marches in major towns in Punjab and the state government extended the suspension of the internet till Monday.

The Punjab police booked Amritpal and seven of his associates under the Arms Act Sunday after they claimed to have recovered six 12-bore rifles and 196 cartridges. Amritsar (Rural) SSP Satinder Singh said over100 illegal cartridges were seized from an associate of Amritpal. Later, the seven persons arrested from Amritpal’s cavalcade were remanded to police custody till March 23.

As several videos of Amritpal and his aides were being shared in public, Inspector General of Police, Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill, issued a video statement Sunday evening that Amritpal was still absconding and efforts were on to nab him. The Punjab police is acting within the ambit of law, he said.

In a related development, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh issued a statement appealing for peace and harmony. Urging the authorities to not perpetuate an atmosphere of fear by unduly picking up youth, he called upon youngsters to avoid the path of confrontation.

Earlier, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal told mediapersons that Amritpal’s vehicle was chased for around 25 kms on Saturday but his driver managed to escape through the narrow lanes of Malsian town in Jalandhar by hitting a police vehicle on the road. Amritpal was travelling with four persons including his uncle.

DIG Jalandhar Range Swapan Sharma said the Mercedes in which Amritpal travels was gifted to him by drug smuggler Ravel Singh. He also said his links with Pakistani Agency ISI were being probed.

The police had planned to arrest Amritpal at Mehatpur on the Jalandhar-Moga Road on Saturday. He, however, evaded the police and sources said he left his vehicle and mobile phone near Nakodar. In a state-wide crackdown, the police had arrested 78 of his associates on Saturday.

(With inputs from Mahender Singh Manral in New Delhi)