The Punjab Police has arrested 154 people for “disturbing peace and harmony” in the state, while Amritpal Singh remains on the run for the fifth consecutive day. Punjab Police Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Gill confirmed that the situation in the state is stable and under control, despite the ongoing search for the fugitive.
Punjab Police launched an operation against Amritpal Singh and his associates on Saturday, and since then, they have issued a lookout circular and non-bailable warrant for his arrest. According to the police, Amritpal Singh has been on the run since his associates opened fire on a police team on March 18.
During a press conference, IGP Gill informed that the police have arrested 154 people for “disturbing peace and harmony” in the state. He further stated that the police have received full cooperation from other states and central agencies in their action against the fugitive.
The police have recovered a Brezza car (PB02-EE-3343) that was used by Amritpal to escape while police teams were chasing his cavalcade on March 18. The police have also arrested four individuals identified as Manpreet Singh alias Manna (28) of Nava Killa in Shahkot, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa (34) of village Bal Nau in Nakodar, Harpreet Singh alias Happy (36) of village Kotla Nodh Singh in Hoshiarpur, and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja of village Gondara in Faridkot. These four individuals had facilitated Amritpal to escape.
The IGP also revealed that Amritpal and his associates had changed their clothes in a Gurdwara Sahib in village Nangal Ambia to change their attire and absconded from there on two motorcycles. Police teams have been searching for them since then.
Under the National Security Act, the police have detained Kulwant Singh Raoke of village Raoke in Moga and Gurinderpal Singh alias Guri Aujla of Kapurthala. The police have also registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) against Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh of Kallu Kheda in Amritsar and his driver Harpreet Singh of village Madoka in Moga for trespassing and taking shelter for two days at the house of Sarpanch Manpreet Singh of village Uddowal in Mehatpur, Jalandhar on gunpoint. An FIR no. 28 dated March 20 has been registered under sections 449, 342, 506, and 34 of IPC and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at Police Station Mehatpur.
Meanwhile, 37 persons have been taken into preventive custody. IGP Gill also appealed to the public to disclose Amritpal’s whereabouts and shared pictures of him with different looks. The search for Amritpal and his associates is still ongoing.