Amritpal Singh Row: Police Invoke NSA Against 5 Associates, Preacher's Uncle Flown To Assam; All You Need To Know

As the hunt for Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh continues for fourth day, his uncle Harjit Singh was flown to Dibrugarh in Assam this morning.

Here's a brief account of the incident and what shape it has taken so far.

The Punjab Police operation began Saturday, weeks after Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate.

Amrit Pal Singh's close aides arrested

The Khalistan sympathiser’s uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh gave themselves up before police past Sunday midnight.

Harjit Singh, who officials say helped his nephew gain control over the accounts of “Waris Punjab De”, 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 is shifted to the central jail in Assam’s Dibrugarh today, where the other four were brought on Sunday. They are Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh and 'Pradhanmantri' Bajeka.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters here that specialised units are involved in the efforts to nab the preacher – who gave police the slip during a car chase in Jalandhar district on Saturday.

Amritpal Singh’s uncle and the driver surrendered near Bullandpur gurdwara in Jalandhar’s Mehatpur area. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Narinder Bhargav was among the officers at the spot.

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 car was later seized and the two men taken away by the Amritsar Rural police, officials said.

Three other vehicles that were part of Amritpal Singh’s convoy on Saturday have also been seized. So far, six FIRs have been registered, 114 people arrested, and ten weapons and 430 cartridges recovered in the action against Waris Punjab De, police said.

National Security Act imposed on 5 Amritpal Singh aides

The Punjab Police on Monday flagged a possible “ISI angle” as it invoked the stringent National Security Act against five men linked to radical preacher Amritpal Singh, whose uncle and driver surrendered amid a state-wide crackdown against his "Waris Punjab De" group

The IG said police have a strong suspicion of an “ISI angle” and foreign funding against those arrested in this case, and further investigations are underway.

Gill indicated that the preacher, who heads Waris Punjab De, could also be detained under the NSA.

“It can be invoked against him once he is arrested, and the rest of the facts will be made clear to you,” he said, replying to a question at the press conference.

On the provisions of the NSA, the IG Gill said, "There is a provision under section 5 that to maintain peace and public harmony, anybody can be transferred to another state with its consent. It has been invoked in this matter and is totally legal," he asserted.

He said police found AKF (Anandpur Khalsa Fauj) inscribed on bullet proof jackets and weapons recovered during the operation. The initials were given to the preacher’s close associates, he added.

The police are checking the source of funds for Waris Punjab De. Gill said the outfit has received foreign funding through hawala in small amounts to bank accounts.

Police are also probing the funding for the seized vehicles as people in whose names they are registered did not have the means to afford them, he said.

Punjab police's operation so far

The Punjab Police operation began Saturday, weeks after Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate.

The episode had raised fears over the possibility of the return of Khalistani militancy to the border state.

The Punjab government has again extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services, this time up to Tuesday noon. Police have warned people against spreading rumours.

The Twitter accounts of some Punjab have been “withheld”. Gill said he is not aware of this.

Replying to a question on the habeas corpus petition that seeks Amritpal Singh’s production in court, the IG said the police will present the facts before the court.

The preacher is still not in the custody of police, he said. “What we have done in this case is as per the law.”

Amritpal's father Tarsem Singh said it is “false propaganda” that the preacher has links with the ISI and used drug de-addiction centres for stockpiling arms. He claimed that Amritpal Singh was being defamed.

Police are taking out flag marches in the state and peace committee meetings are being held in all districts. There is complete peace in Punjab, he said.

The official urged people not to believe in rumours and fake news, saying strict action will be taken against those who spread them.

Political responses received so far

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal hit out at the “puppet AAP regime” over the crackdown, calling it an “undeclared emergency and reign of repression and terror let loose in the state”.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has condemned the “excesses” being committed against Sikh youths in the past few days. Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said he has been continuously getting calls from abroad and within the state from people appreciating the Aam Aadmi Party government’s action against “anti-social elements”. He said the state is in safe hands under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and such elements will not be allowed to flourish.

Waris Punjab De was set up singer-activist Deep Sandhu. Amritpal Singh took over as its chief month after his death last year.

(With PTI Inputs)