Khalistani Amritpal’s Escape: HC Slams Punjab Police

Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday slammed the Punjab police over the escape of Khalistani radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

The High Court questioned how Amritpal Singh could slip out of the reach of Punjab police repeatedly.

“You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing? How did Amritpal Singh escape?” the High Court asked the Punjab government, calling it an intelligence failure.

The police crackdown on Amritpal Singh came three weeks after his supporters clashed with cops on February 23. They stormed a police station, flashing swords and firearms, threatening the police with huge consequences if they did not release Singh’s aide Lovepreet Toofan, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and abducting a man.

Amritpal Singh has been active in Punjab for some years and is often seen waving from the sunroof of his Mercedes. He is always escorted by armed supporters.

Amritpal Singh claims to be the follower of terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was slain in Operation Bluestar in 1984. Among his supporters, Amritpal Singh is known as “Bhindranwale 2.0″.

On Tuesday, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said,”We will not spare any force working against the country. People of this state want peace and progress.”