Papalpreet Singh, a close associate of the wanted Khalistan leader, was detained by Punjab Police for a day before being sent to Assam’s Dibrugarh Central Jail on Tuesday.
On Monday, Papalpreet was taken into custody in Amritsar’s Kathu Nangal locality. The arrest of Amritpal’s close aide was announced to the media by Sukhchain Singh Gill, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters for Punjab. He added that Papalpreet was held in compliance with the National Security Act. (NSA).
“Papalpreet Singh, the main associate of Amritpal Singh was arrested by Amritsar Rural Police from the Kathu Nangal area. The arrest was made under the National Security Act. Apart from being an associate of Amritpal, he was also wanted in six cases,” Gill said, adding that action against him will be taken as per the law.
Papalpreet was seen with the fugitive Khalistan leader in several photographs that surfaced after the duo escaped the dragnet cast for them by the state police.
In an unverified video on March 30, the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief said he was not “a fugitive” and would soon “appear in front of the world”.
Further, in the video, the veracity of which could not be determined, Amritpal said those who think he ran away from his people or friends should “get that thing” out of their minds.Earlier, on March 18, Punjab Police launched an operation against Amritpal and his aides.
The Punjab Police had earlier, expressed doubts about Amritpal entering the Delhi border using any vehicle other than a bus. Following the input, Delhi Police raised an alert and stepped up efforts to track the fugitive radical preacher.
Amritpal has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him.The crackdown came almost over three weeks after Amritpal’s supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides, Lovepreet Toofan.