Amritpal was surrounded, had no way to escape: Punjab IGP on ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief arrest

Following claims of surrender by a cleric of the Rodewal Gurudwara where Amritpal Singh stayed, a top Punjab official said on Sunday that the police had “arrested” the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief after he was surrounded on all sides and had no way out.

Addressing a press conference, Punjab’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “It is very clear that we have arrested him, he was surrounded from all sides and had no way to escape. Whatever he said inside the Gurudwara Sahib it is not right to comment on it.” Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the police did not enter the Gurudwara Sahib to maintain its sanctity.

“…Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Punjab Police at around 6.45 am today morning in village Rode. A joint operation was conducted by Amritsar Police and the Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police. He was located in village Rode based on operational inputs by Punjab Police. To maintain sanctity, the Police didn’t enter Gurudwara Sahib. He has been taken to Dibrugarh under NSA…,” he said.

He stated that NSA warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and that those warrants were executed this morning.

“NSA warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and those warrants have been executed today morning…Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Punjab Police around 6.45 am today morning in the village Rode,” said Sukhchain Singh Gill.

“Amritpal Singh has been sent to Dibrugarh, Assam and further action will be taken as per law and order in the case. A warning has been issued against disturbing elements trying to jeopardise the peace and harmony of the state,” he added.

‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh addressed devotees this morning in Rodewal Gurudwara in Punjab’s Moga, hours before his arrest.

“Amritpal Singh came to the Rodewal Gurudwara on Saturday night. He himself informed the police about his presence and that he will surrender this morning at 7 am,” claimed Singh Sahib Giani Jasbir Singh Rode of Rodewal Gurudwara in Moga, while speaking to ANI over the phone.

Amritpal, who had been missing since March 18, the day a massive crackdown was launched against him and his associates in Punjab, was apprehended, police said early Sunday morning.

The crackdown came nearly three weeks after Amritpal’s supporters stormed Amritsar’s Ajnala police station on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides, Lovepreet Toofan. The police then declared Amritpal a fugitive. About a month ago, the Punjab Police issued a lookout circular (LOC) and a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief.

His associates had previously been apprehended in various parts of the state. On April 18, two aides of a radical preacher and Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh were apprehended in Mohali, Punjab, in a joint operation by Punjab and Delhi Police. Joga Singh, his close aide, was arrested on April 15 in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, by Punjab Police.

Papalpreet Singh, another close associate of the pro-Khalistani leader, was apprehended on April 10 in an operation carried out by Punjab Police and its counter-intelligence unit.