Amid the massive manhunt to locate and arrest fugitive separatist leader Amritpal Singh, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached Punjab, sources said. While Amritpal Singh is still at large, Punjab police have detained at least 114 aides of the Waris Punjab De chief, along with 10 weapons and four cars so far.
The crackdown on Amritpal Singh’s aides has continued. Internet services have been shut down in the Tarnataran, Frizpur, Amritsar, Mohali, Moga, and Sangroor districts of the state till noon of March 23, while they were restored in other parts
The NIA’s arrival in Punjab amidst the commotion is being seen as a sign that the central probe agency might take over the case.
Earlier, a source had predicted the possibility of the case being transferred to the NIA. Notably, the NIA’s involvement comes after Amritpal Singh’s alleged ISI link came to the fore during the investigation by the Punjab police.
“Going by the circumstances, it seems that ISI is involved and there is foreign funding as well. The bulletproof jackets and rifles that have been recovered and the gate (of the house) of the chief (Amritpal Singh) had AKF written on them. There was an attempt to form a Jathebandi called ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj, ” said IGP Punjab, Sukhchain Singh Gill.
In the latest, Khalitani sympathiser Amritpal Singh is still absconding. Amritpal Singh’s uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered before the Jalandhar police yesterday.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police, Parminder Singh Bhandal, told the media that the police have set up 100 checkpoints in Amritsar and its outskirts to physically check vehicles. CRPF jawans are accompanying the policemen at the checkpoints.
