New Delhi: Punjab Police detained Khalistani leader and ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh for his involvement in the Ajnala violence and other registered cases against him. Reports say that he was detained near Jalandhar’s Nakodar. Police launched an action to arrest him and first got their hands on his close aids. The Punjab government also suspended mobile and internet services till 12 noon on March 19.
Dept of Home Affairs & Justice informed that all mobile internet services, SMS services except banking and mobile recharge and all dongle services, except the voice call stand suspended from March 18 to 19th March (12:00 hours). The government has cited public safety concerns while taking this step.
All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be suspended from 18th March (12:00 hours) to 19th March (12:00 hours) in… https://t.co/NN3LeXoRZt pic.twitter.com/z3vXg4v158
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2023
Reportedly, 50 police vehicles chased him and took him under their custody.
Last month, Amritpal Singh and his supporters led a march to Ajnala Police Station to free their associate Lovepreet Toofan, who according to them, was detained under an FIR in a false kidnapping case. The mob broke through the barricades and the protest turned violent, injuring police personnel. Police let Lovepreet Toofan go following the violence near the police station. Following the incident, he and his associates were accused of rioting.
Amritpal Singh’s pro-Khalistani speeches and recent interviews also led to cases against him for the statements he made.
He was reported absconding while the state police searched several locations.
