The Punjab police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) provisions against pro-Khalistan radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who still remains at large. The number of arrests made during the ongoing operation now stands at 154.
ADVERTISEMENT
Inspector-General of Punjab Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill on Tuesday told mediapersons that four persons, identified as Manpreet Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Harpreet Singh and Gurpesh Singh, were arrested following the seizure of Mr. Amritpal Singh’s getaway car. One .315 rifle, a walkie-talkie set and some swords were also found.
Also Read | Punjab Police invokes stringent NSA against five people
Investigations have revealed that while being chased, Mr. Amritpal Singh had gone to a “gurdwara” where he changed his clothes, wore a shirt and pair of trousers, and then went to a place from where he along with three of his associates drove away on two motorcycles. It is suspected that he has changed his appearance to evade identification. Under the NSA, a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against the “Waris Punjab De [WPD]” chief.
ADVERTISEMENT
Two more alleged WPD activists, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and Gurinder Pal Singh, have been sent to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail where five others are already lodged. Among them is Mr. Amritpal Singh’s uncle Harjit Singh, against whom a separate case has been registered by the Punjab police on a complaint that he along with one Harpreet had forced a village “sarpanch” at gunpoint to provide him shelter.
Internet services restored
On Tuesday, mobile Internet services were restored in most parts of the State. However, the restrictions were extended till Thursday noon in Moga, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Ajnala in Amritsar and some areas of Mohali.
Also Read | Won’t let anyone disturb peace in Punjab, says CM Mann on crackdown against Amritpal Singh
Stating that no untoward incident had taken place, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said stern action would be taken against those attempting to create any trouble. “We are a 100% secular party, we don’t do politics in the name of religion and caste...I want to assure the people of Punjab that every drop of my blood is there for Punjab...,” he tweeted, adding that his government’s priority was books, laptops and computers.
Mr. Mann said the police had acted against those who at the behest of foreign powers were indulging in hate speech. Stringent punishment would be meted out to them, he added. The operation against the WPD elements was launched on March 18.