Amritpal Singh may have fled Punjab, say cops after his clothes, abandoned car found
The Punjab Police suspects that Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh might have crossed the state borders after his clothes and an abandoned car were found on Monday.
The police said Amritpal Singh got down from a Mercedes and fled to Shahkot in a Brezza. Later, the Waris Punjab De chief changed his clothes and might have escaped from Punjab on a motorbike of one of his aides as the police zeroed in on him.
The police have recovered Amritpal Singh’s clothes, the Brezza car and some weapons. Several people who helped the Khalistani separatist flee have been detained by the police.
The crackdown comes a month after Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed a police station with swords and guns for the release of one of his aides. During the ongoing crackdown, over 100 associates of Amritpal have been arrested and several arms and ammunition meant for the “Anandpur Khalsa Front” were seized.
As per intelligence reports, Amritpal Singh was using drug rehab centres and a gurdwara to stockpile weapons and was preparing youth to carry out suicide attacks.
ISI ANGLE
The Punjab Police on Monday flagged a possible ISI angle as it invoked the stringent National Security Act against five men linked to Amritpal Singh, whose uncle and driver surrendered amid the state-wide crackdown.
Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh is among the five slapped with the NSA, which allows the preventive detention of anyone who could threaten national security or public order. Harjit Singh will be shifted to the central jail in Assam’s Dibrugarh, where the other four were brought on Sunday.
In a video shot then, Harjit Singh can be seen producing his licensed 32 bore pistol and cash amounting to Rs 1 lakh to 1.25 lakh which he was carrying in a Mercedes.
The police found AKF inscribed on bullet-proof jackets and weapons recovered during the operation.
So far, six FIRs have been registered, 114 people arrested, and ten weapons and 430 cartridges recovered in the action against Waris Punjab De. The source of funds for Amritpal Singh’s group is also being looked at.