Khalistani Amritpal Singh’s Arrested Uncle & Associates Shifted to Assam

Chandigarh: While Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh is yet to be nabbed although the operation to capture him entered the fourth day, his arrested uncle Harjit Singh was flown to Dibrugarh in Assam on Tuesday morning. Amritpal’s four key arrested associates were also shifted to Dibrugarh Central Jail on Sunday.

The Punjab government has imposed stringent National Security Act (NSA) on Amritpal Singh’s uncle and six other aides. This allows police to detain suspects in any prison in the country.

The centre seems to be moving in to take over the case as a terror investigation with a fresh FIR citing the Arms Act against Amritpal Singh. The Khalistani leader has been named “Accused Number one” in the new case.

Khalistani supporters are targeting Indian embassies abroad. On Monday the Indian consulate in San Francisco was attacked by some Khalistani supporters. Before that Khalistani supporters pulled down the national flag from the Indian High Commission building in London. The suspension of mobile internet and SMS services will continue in parts of Punjab till Thursday noon. Neighbouring Haryana also remains on high alert.

The massive crackdown against the Khalistani leader comes a month after Amritpal Singh and his supporters broke into a police station with swords and guns for the release of one of his aides. Six policemen were injured in the clash.

The ‘top secret’ action was a coordinated effort between Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Punjab, the Centre, and BJP-governed Assam, say officials. Sources say Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had discussed the plan to arrest Amritpal Singh with Home Minister Amit Shah in a meeting on March 2.

Home Ministry sources said Amritpal Singh was planning to launch suicide attacks. He was using de-addiction centres to stockpile weapons illegally sourced from Pakistan and to motivate youths to become suicide bombers.

So far, the police have arrested 114 associates of Amritpal Singh.