preacher Amritpal Singh, who was on the run since March 18, courted arrest to Punjab police after coming out of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Khalsa in the Rode village of Moga district early Sunday morning.
Rode is the native village of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Prior to giving in to police, Amritpal said in his address from inside the gurdwara that he was unlikely to run away at a time when his supporters were being persecuted by the state. Stating that he had the opportunity to go abroad, but he chose to surrender and at the place where it all started. He said that his anointment as the chief of WPD was done at this gurdwara built at the birthplace of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala. After taking the blessing of the guru, he would give his arrest, he added.
However, inspector general (IG) of police Sukhchain Singh Gill told newspersons here, that Amritpal was arrested at around 6:45 am and that the police had special inputs that fugitive Amritpal was hiding in the said gurdwara there.
Stating that though the police had cornered the entire village, it did not enter the gurdwara as a token of respect for a religious place which was supreme to the police. Amritpal courted arrest as he had no place to run, the IG said and added that no one other than Amritpal was arrested.
Amritpal was subsequently flown to Assam later in the afternoon to Assam jail where nine of his close aides had already been lodged. A special Indian Air Force plane carrying Singh, who was accompanied by Punjab police officials, from Amritsar had reached Mohanbari airport in Assam around 2:20 pm and from there, he was taken to Dibrugarh jail under tight security.
It may be recalled that Amritpal, who also heads ``Waris Punjab De’’ (WPD) outfit, had given a slip to the Punjab police in the massive crackdown on him and his supporters associated with WPD on March 18.
Police was on a hunt to nab him and his aides since February 23 after they had stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar demanding release of one of his aides booked in a case of assault and abduction.
He was declared a fugitive and a look-out circular (LoC) was issued besides a non-bailable warrant against him, since.
At least 12 of his associates had also been nabbed while nine of his close aides had been arrested under NSA and sent to Assam jail.
Rise of Amritpal
Amritpal, about 30, who was born in village Jallupur Khera in Amritsar, and who had been to Dubai to look after transport business of the family for over a decade, had returned last year and taken to the task of preaching Sikhism after being inspired by Bhindranwale.
He even dressed like him and copied his mannerism and according to media reports had even gone to Georgia to undergo cosmetic surgery to look like him. He openly supported Deep Sidhu who hogged limelight in the 2021 R-Day incident during farmers' stir. He took over Sidhu’s ``Waris Punjab De’’ outfit after his demise in a road accident in February 2022.
Punjab Police issues a statement after Amritpal's arrest
Shortly after the news of the fugitive Khalistani leader's arrest came out, the Punjab Police issued an official statement giving information about his arrest and also urged the citizens to maintain peace and harmony as well as to avoid sharing fake news.
"Amritpal Singh arrested in Moga, Punjab. Further details will be shared by Punjab Police Urge citizens to maintain peace and harmony, Don't share any fake news, always verify and share," read the Punjab Police's tweet.
Who is Amritpal Singh?
Amritpal Singh was born on January 17, 1993, in Baba Bakala town, Amritsar. From a young age, he has been actively participating in social campaigns across Punjab. After Deep Sidhu's death in February 2022, Amritpal Singh was elected as the new leader of Waris Punjab De, an organization focused on the Punjabi community. Waris Punjab De released a letter introducing Amritpal Singh as the new leader.
On September 29, 2022, Amritpal Singh returned to Punjab from Dubai, where he reportedly ran a transport business. After arriving in India, he consumed nectar in Anandpur Sahib, which is a part of the initiation ceremony that allows Sikhs to become members of the Khalsa.
