Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18, was on Sunday arrested by the Punjab Police in Moga district. Addressing a media conference here, IG Sukhchain Singh Gill, who is the spokesperson of Punjab Police, said police maintained relentless pressure for 35 days to catch Amritpal.
The Punjab Police have already invoked the stringent NSA against the pro-Khalistan activist. Amritpal is being shifted to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail, where eight of his aides are already being held under the National Security Act (NSA).
The IG said Amritpal was arrested at 6:45 am from Rode. “We had special inputs that he was hiding in Rode village gurdwara. We didn’t enter the gurdwara as the maryada of a religious place is supreme for us. Amritpal courted arrest as he had no place to run,” said Sukhchain Singh.
Punjab Police, its Intelligence wing, as well as local units from Amritsar Rural and Moga were involved in the operation, he added. No one other than Amritpal was arrested today, he revealed. “He is being taken to Dibrugarh, Assam, and further action will be taken as per the law,” said the IG.
The Punjab Police had launched a crackdown on Amritpal and members of his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’ on March 18, a month after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala. The pro-Khalistan activist was on the run for 36 days.
