Is Pro-Khalistan Leader Amritpal Singh Arrested?
There were several inputs that Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan leader was engaged in brainwashing youths to become human bombs.
There were several inputs that Amritpal Singh, a pro- Khalistan leader was engaged in brainwashing youths to become human bombs. Amritpal Singh, a non-resident Indian, was working as a truck driver in Dubai. While living there, he came in contact with Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI. There was an understanding that the ISI would spend money and by bringing the Sikhs behind him in the name of Khalistan, he would have a say in Punjab. Last year, Singh returned to India from Dubai after Waris Punjab De, a pro-Khalistan group founder Deep Sidhu's death in an accident. It is alleged that Singh returned at the behest of Pakistan's ISI and Khalistan supporters residing overseas.
The intelligence agencies had a tip off that the group might be plotting attacks in Delhi. It was also reported that Amritpal Singh was using drug de-addiction centres run by the 'Waris Panjab De' and a gurdwara in Amritsar for stockpiling weapons and preparing youths to carry out suicide attacks. Reportedly, the youths who were admitted to the de-addiction centres used to be indoctrinated and pushed towards the gun culture. He was trying to raise his own army - the Anandpur Khalsa Force (AKF) and a human bomb squad. The youths were being brainwashed to choose the path of slain terrorist Dilawar Singh, who acted as a human bomb and killed former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Amritpal has recently threatened Union home minister Amit Shah saying he will meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi if he tried to stop the Khalistan movement. Last month, Amritpal Singh and his supporters broke into a police station with swords and guns for the release of one of his aides. Six police officials were injured in the clash.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 2nd March 2023.
After that a move to arrest Amritpoal Singh was launched. On 18th March 2023, morning, over 50 police vehicles reportedly started chasing Singh and his aides in an attempt to detain them after thePunjab Police traced the separatist leader's last location in Shahkot, Jalandhar. Furthermore, numerous supporters of Singh took to social media claiming the police were after them. However, cops couldn't reportedly find Singh, and the statewide operation is ongoing. It was reported that Amritpal Singh was last seen speeding away on a motorcycle. Despite the hunt to arrest Singh, since Saturday, police have not been able to catch him.
However, Waris Punjab De members, Singh’s lawyer and his father claim that Singh has been arrested and fear that the Punjab police will kill him in a fake encounter. But the police maintained that Singh was absconding. Over a 100 people of Singh's Waris Punjab De were arrested and are reportedly being interrogated at an undisclosed location. These included Singh’s uncle, his driver and the one who took care of his finances. During the ongoing investigation, several arms and ammunition were seized. The police also seized uniforms and jackets. The weapons and ammunition seized bore 'AKF' markings on them. Authoritiessuspended internet and SMS (except banking and mobile recharge) services across the state from 18th March onwards after his aides shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them.
Amid the crackdown in India, Khalistani supporters hit the streets in the United Kingdom in protest.
Videos on social media showed protesters climbing the Indian High Commission building in London and taking down the national flag. The videos showed one of the protestors clambering onto a balcony and pulling down the Indian flag from a pole at the front of the high commission to cheers from the other men. British Deputy High Commissioner, Christina Scott was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry late on 19th March night who condemned the incident.
