Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann stayed awake all night for peaceful arrest operation

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, has praised the successful arrest of radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh by the state’s police. Mann stated that he had been in regular contact with senior officials throughout Saturday night about the operation and commended the police’s peaceful approach to the arrest. The Chief Minister stressed that those who attempt to disturb peace and security in Punjab will face the full force of the law.
In a video message, Mann expressed his gratitude to the people of Punjab for their cooperation and urged the state’s youth not to be misled by those with vested interests. The Chief Minister emphasised that the fertile land of Punjab should only be used to grow positive and productive ideas, not seeds of hatred.
Mann reasserted his commitment to protecting the life and property of the people of Punjab, and stated that he would take tough measures if necessary. However, he stressed that such actions would never be taken against any innocent person. The Chief Minister noted that he had received information about the arrest of Amritpal Singh on Saturday night and had stayed awake all night in contact with senior officials to ensure the operation was conducted peacefully.
Amritpal Singh was charged under the National Security Act and arrested in Rode village, Moga district, on Sunday morning. He had no way to escape as police personnel had surrounded him. Singh was taken to Dibrugarh in Assam, where nine of his associates were lodged at the Dibrugarh Central Jail. Security in and around the jail premises has been tightened since March 19, when four members of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD) were arrested. Mann praised the utmost restraint shown by police personnel during the Ajnala incident in February, in which Amritpal and his supporters brought the Palki Sahib of Guru Granth Sahib. He instructed the Director General of Police to use utmost restraint and preserve the respect of Guru Granth Sahib. Mann also commended the people of Punjab for maintaining peace and brotherhood during the crackdown on Amritpal and his associates.
The Chief Minister of Punjab reiterated that the state has a strong tradition of making sacrifices for the country’s freedom and safeguarding its frontiers. He expressed his desire for Punjab to emerge as a leader in various developmental parameters and stated that the state would continue to make progress. Mann spoke to deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police on Sunday and reported that people were carrying on with their normal routine without any untoward incident.