“We were directed to nab him (Amritpal Singh). While chasing, he ended up on a one-lane link road ahead of us. While outrunning us he crashed into several motorbike riders, some were with the motive to divert us from the chase,” Deputy Inspector General Swapan Sharma said.Pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh declared fugitive, massive search operation on to nab him
Amritpal Singh's 'close aide and financier' Daljeet Singh Kalsi arrested: Sources Amritpal Singh's four aides flown to Assam's Dibrugarh by special aircraft
The Punjab Police were chasing Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by Punjab Police, to nab him and his aides.
The senior police officer said, “While interception in Mehatpur, a crowded market, the vehicle in front, somehow managed to flee. But we have recovered the other two cars of his convoy.” “We have recovered seven illegal weapons too,” he added.
DIG Sharma also said Singh changed his routes two-three times. “He was earlier at Harike, then he entered Doaba region from another flyover,” he said, adding that Singh was first time seen at the Shahkot area, where he was intercepted. “But he took a U-turn from there too,” he further said.
Earlier in the day, the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab, was extended till Monday noon.
Punjab Police on Saturday launched an operation against Amritpal Singh and his aides. Police later, while stating that 78 persons were arrested in the operation and several were detained for questioning, said that the Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh was still on the run and a massive manhunt is launched to nab him.
Previously the central agency sources informed that Daljeet Singh Kalsi alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi, who is an alleged adviser and financer of Amritpal Singh, was arrested by the authorities on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a heavy police force has been deployed outside Amritpal Singh’s residence in Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar. Security has also been enhanced across the state, as per the police.
Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal, on Saturday late evening, confirmed that the radical leader had been declared a “fugitive”.
The police action came almost over three weeks after Amritpal’s supporters clashed with uniformed personnel at the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar last month, demanding the release of one of Amritpal’s close aides, Lovepreet Toofan.
On February 23, thousands of his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station, flashing swords and high-calibre firearms and threatening the police with dire consequences if they did not release Lovepreet Toofan, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and abducting a man.
In the wake of crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his followers in Punjab, the UT Administration has imposed Section 144 of CrPc.
Carrying any kind of weapons within the UT has been prohibited.
Rally Ground in Sector 25 has been earmarked for any kind of rallies, protests to avoid congestions in the city.A comprehensive order has been laid out by Chandigarh District Magistrate, Vinay Pratap Singh, in this regard.
It will be effective from zero hours on March 20 till midnight of March 20.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday put the State of Punjab and its functionaries on notice on a habeas corpus petition seeking issuance of directions to the Jalandhar commissioner of police and other officials to produce alleged detainee Amritpal Singh “in the interest of justice”.
Justice N.S. Shekhawat of the high court also fixed the case for further hearing on Tuesday.
Among other things, petitioner Imaan Singh Khara alleged that ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh had been illegally and forcibly detained by the commissioner and other official respondents without any authority of law.
Directions were also sought for the appointment of a warrant officer to visit the “spot”.
“If the detainee is found in illegal custody of the respondents, he be set at liberty forthwith,” the petitioner added.
The Bench was also told by the petitioner that he was the legal adviser of organisation ‘Waris Punjab De’ and alleged detainee Amritpal Singh.
The petitioner through counsel Judgepreet Singh Warring added the officials, along with the Central Para Military Forces, detained Amritpal Singh from Shahkot area of Jalandhar district illegally and forcibly without disclosing any reason on March 18.
“Even as per the mandate of law, the respondents are required to disclose the reasons to the detainee prior to illegal arrest/taking over illegal custody. Moreover, the respondents are intentionally not disclosing anything to the family of the detainee, despite the fact that more than 24 hours have lapsed since then. So, in these circumstances there is strong enough apprehension danger to the life of the Amritpal Singh,” he added.
