Amritpal Singh Arrested and Sent to Assam Jail
Look at how Amritpal Singh was arrested and how his wife also came into picture. Find out more about different theories surrounding this case!
The Punjab Police had launched its statewide crackdown on Amritpal Singh and the members of his Waris Punjab De group on March 18. The police wanted to arrest him because of his links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and his group called Waris Punjab De which was involved in the Khalistan movement. Between Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, he was continuously on the move, never staying at any place for more than a few days.
While on the run from the authorities, two videos and one audio clip of Singh surfaced on social media. In one of the videos, which hit the web on March 30, the pro-Khalistani leader claimed that he wasn't a fugitive and would appear before everyone soon. Singh also asserted that he was not like those people who would run away from the country.
Earlier on Thursday 20 April 2023, Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur, was stopped at Punjab's Amritsar Airport while she was on her way to board a flight to the United Kingdom (UK). As per reports, Kaur was already in touch with police officials, and immigration officers allegedly stopped her for questioning due to the background of her husband. After questioning she was told to go home and wasn’t allowed to board the flight.
Kaur is a UK citizen she was also questioned last month along with Amritpal Singh's mother. The police had placed heavy surveillance on them, incase Amritpal decided to contact them. Sources said Amritpal Singh wanted his wife to get safely out of the country first. He was apprehensive that if he skipped the country, she would be arrested and blamed for his escape.
After more than a month-long manhunt, Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab police on Sunday 23 April morning from Moga's Rode village at 6:45am.
The police had received information that Singh was hiding in a Gurudwara in Moga’s Rode village.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was personally monitoring the operation. On 23 April around 4 am, Mann was informed that the village was completely sealed and no escape route was left.
Mr. Mann had given strict instructions that the Gurudwara, where Amritpal Singh was hiding, not be stormed.
Following his instructions, only two or three police officers were sent to make the arrest. Singh Sahib Giani Jasbir Singh Rode, a member of the gurudwara, said, "Amritpal himself informed the police about his presence and that he will surrender this morning at 7:00am.”
However Sukhchain Singh Gill, Punjab IGP, said,"Amritpal Singh’s arrest was based on intelligence input. This was a joint operation between Punjab police and intelligence agencies. He was surrounded because of nakkas that were put in place. Amritpal Singh ran out of options, so he had to surrender. Amritpal Singh has been arrested under the NSA."
He has been taken to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, where eight of his aides are already being held under the National Security Act, which allows detention up to a year without any charge.He was taken to Assam in a special flight. He is being kept in isolation now and will be questioned regarding the Pakistani link for the Khalistan movement. The village in Moga where Amritpal Singh was arrested today, is the birthplace of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, whom he idolised.
The chief minister said those who break the law will be brought to justice and vowed strict action against Amritpal Singh.
