Amritpal Singh’s close aides Surrender in Punjab Police, Hunt for extremist leader continues

New Delhi (India), March 19, 2023: Two close associates of fugitive pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh surrendered to the Punjab Police late on Sunday night. Harjit Singh, the uncle of Amritpal Singh, and his driver, Harpreet Singh, turned themselves in at Bullandpur Gurudwara in the Shahkot area.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Narendra Bhargav accepted their surrender at around 1:30 a.m. The police also seized the Mercedez car used by the duo during their escape from the Mehatpur Police Station on Saturday.

However, the police have yet to locate Amritpal Singh, and the search for him is still ongoing. The Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), Swarandeep Singh, has confirmed that the hunt is still on. So far, the state police have arrested 112 supporters of Amritpal. On Sunday, the police conducted flag marches and searches across the state to apprehend Amritpal.

The Punjab government launched a massive crackdown against Amritpal and his outfit “Waris Punjab De” on Saturday. The police arrested 78 members of the group on that day alone. However, Amritpal managed to evade capture after his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district.

The police have recovered the Isuzu SUV used by Amritpal and his uncle during their escape. The vehicle contained a weapon, a sword, and several rounds of bullets. The crackdown on Amritpal began after he and his supporters forcibly entered the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested aide.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the state government to respond to a habeas corpus petition on Tuesday, claiming that Amritpal Singh is already in illegal police custody and should be released. Meanwhile, the police have transferred four men in custody, including alleged fund-raiser Daljit Singh Kalsi, to jail in far-off Assam’s Dibrugarh.