Punjab Police cracks down against radical preacher Amritpal Singh; internet services suspended in state till Sunday noon

Punjab Police is learned to have launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh on Saturday detaining six of his supporters, according to a report of Press Trust of India (PTI)

There were some reports suggesting that the self-styled Sikh preacher too had been detained near Nakodar but no official confirmation has come in this regard so far, the news agency reported.

Internet services have been suspended across the state till 12 noon Sunday, a PTI report said while quoting a senior official of the Home affairs department.

Punjab Police has launched action against Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh and his aides. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/mhrlf6HY7A

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2023

Amripal's cavalcade was intercepted by police in Mehatpur village in Jalandhar district on Saturday.

Some supporters of 'Waris Punjab De' chief shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them.

A video also showed Amritpal sitting in a vehicle and one of his aides could be heard saying policemen were after 'Bhai saab' (Amritpal).

Another supporter in a field shared a video in which he was claiming that policemen were after him.

A heavy police force was involved in the entire operation.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and harmony. "Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony Punjab Police is working to maintain Law & Order. Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or hate speech," it said in a tweet.

Who is Amritpal Singh?

In an unprecedented sequence of events that unfolded in Punjab last month, a group of men brandishing swords and guns barged into a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar demanding the release of a prisoner named Lovepreet Singh, who was accused of kidnapping.

During the incident, six policemen including a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered injuries.

At the centre of these events was a 30-year-old named Amritpal Singh, who has risen to fame as a radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser.

Amritpal Singh claims to represent the Sikh community. He has been active in Punjab since taking over the reins of Waris Punjab De. He is often escorted by aides who are armed.

With PTI Inputs