Live: Amritpal Singh Sent to Dibrugarh Jail, To Be Questioned by RAW, IB
Catch all live updates on Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's arrest here.
Amritpal Singh arrest live updates
(Photos: PTI/altered by The Quint)
Amritpal Singh arrest live updates: After a month-long chase, Waris Punjab De chief and fugitive Amritpal Singh was arrested by the Punjab police in Moga on Sunday, 23 April. The arrest took place after Amritpal, who was on the run since 18 March, surrendered.
Amritpal surrendered at the Rodewal Gurdwara in Rode village of Moga district. Slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale hailed from Rode.
In a video of his address at the gurdwara before his arrest, Amritpal said: "I might be guilty in the court of the world, but I'm not guilty in the court of God. After one month, I have decided that I will continue the fight here, I will face all the fake cases against me here.
While addressing the media, the police said that a "joint operation was conducted by Amritsar Police and Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police after he was located in Rode."
Here's all that Amritpal did before his surrender and arrest:
Amritpal Singh came late in the night to Rode village and met Jasbir Singh Rode, former Akal Takht Jathedar and Bhindranwale's nephew.
He had already informed the police that he shall surrender on Sunday morning.
Rode advised him to go to the gurdwara, seek blessings, and address the sangat (people) to let everyone know why was he surrendering and why hadn’t he surrendered all this while.
He then got ready and went to the gurdwara, prayed, did paath, and addressed the sangat.
In his address, he alleged "unlawful crackdown" by the government and the police on him and his aides and said that he "will fight the false cases."
He surrendered at 6:45 am, following which he was taken to the Bhatinda Air Force Station and was flown to a jail in Assam's Dibrugarh where his other aides have been lodged.
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The Story So Far
Singh had led a massive protest against the Punjab Police on 24 February after the arrest of his key aide Lovepreet Singh. His supporters had broken through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station.
A few weeks later, this was followed by a massive crackdown on the radical group Waris Punjab De, leading to the arrest of hundreds of persons supporting the group.
Amritpal Singh had taken over Waris Punjab De soon after the death of actor Deep Sidhu, who had founded the organisation.
Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested by the Punjab police on 10 April from Kathu Nangal in Punjab and charged under National Security Act.
Amritpal Singh: How a 29-Year-Old From Dubai Rose Dramatically in Sikh Politics
"We (Sikhs) have become a community of slaves" – this is a message Amritpal Singh, the head of Waris Punjab De, tries to push in most of his speeches.
Just 29 years of age, the Dubai-returned Amritpal Singh has suddenly burst into Punjab's religiopolitical scene after he took over Waris Punjab De, an organisation formed by actor-activist Deep Sidhu before his death in an alleged accident in February 2022.
Read the full story here.
'Urge Citizens to Maintain Peace': Punjab Police
Punjab Police confirmed the news of the arrest in a tweet and urged "citizens to maintain peace and harmony. Don't share any fake news, always verify and share."
Amritpal Singh May be Shifted to Assam Jail
Amritpal Singh is likely to be shifted to Dibrugarh, Assam according to Punjab Police sources, ANI reported.
'Will Fight Fake Cases Against Me': What Amritpal Said Before Surrender
In a purported video that has gone viral on social media, Amritpal Singh addressed his followers at the gurdwara in Moga before his surrender and said that he will fight the "fake cases" against him. Here are the key highlights of his address:
"At this sacred place which is the birthplace of Sant Jarnail Singh, I stand at an important juncture in my life."
"Whatever has transpired in the last one month, the government has shown its brute force."
"I am not guilty in the court of the almighty even though I may be guilty in the court of the land. So after one month I have decided that I will not flee. I will face the false cases against me."
"With the blessing of the almighty, the web of lies against me will unravel."
Amritpal Surrendered at Bhindranwale's Village
Amritpal Singh surrendered at the Rodewal Gurdwara in Rode village of Moga district. Slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale hailed from Rode.
Here's All That Amritpal Did Before He Surrendered
Jasbir Singh Rode, former Akal Takht Jathedar and Bhindranwale's nephew met Amritpal Singh the night before his arrest.
"He Amritpal Singh came late in the night to Rode village. I found out from the police that he was going to surrender from Rode. When I met him before he came to the gurdwara, I told me that he was going to seek blessings and then address the sangat (people) to let everyone know why was he surrendering and why hadn’t he surrendered all this while. He then got ready and then went to gurdwara sahib, prayed, did paath, addressed the sangat, thanked those who supported him, did ardaas for him (prayed for him), and then he walked out of the gurdwara and surrendered," he said.
"I found out about it at 12:30 am and I got here by 4 in the morning. He surrendered at 7:00 am," Rode said.
Rode further urged the media to not spread any fake news on claims about the police forcing Amritpal to surrender. "It's all there in the photos and videos as you can see," he said.
'He Was Surrounded From All Sides': Punjab Police Narrates Operation
Addressing the media, Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill narrated the sequence leading upto to the arrest of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh.
"People in Punjab have maintained peace and harmony, police and government are thankful. The police is committed to maintaining law and order in Punjab," he said.
Amritpal Currently Being Flown To Assam
Amritpal Singh is being flown to Assam from the Bhatinda Air Force Station.
National Security Act (NSA) warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and those warrants have been executed today morning, Punjab IGP SS Gill said.
Amritpal Singh's Wife Stopped Yesterday At Amritsar Airport: Who is Kirandeep Kaur?
Fugitive Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped at the Amritsar airport on Thursday, 20 April, while she was trying to fly to the United Kingdom.
Immigration officials stopped Kaur at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, acting on a lookout notice that was issued against her.
Here's what we know about Amritpal Singh's wife, Kirandeep Kaur.
Amritpal Singh Untraceable Since 1 Month: Was it Really About Him? 4 Key Points
A month since the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against Amritpal Singh, he was arrested on Sunday morning.
But was the crackdown really just about him? Here are four key aspects to the entire issue:
The crackdown went much beyond Waris Punjab De
Centre was calling the shots
Waris Punjab De weakened
Akal Takht takes centre-stage
Met Bhindranwale's Nephew, Paath in Gurdwara: What Amritpal Did Before Arrest
In a video message accessed by The Quint, Rode asserted, “Amritpal had surrendered on Sunday morning, after which the police took him."
Here's everything that Amritpal did before he surrendered and the claims by the police leading to his arrest.
Amritpal Had No Choice But To Surrender, Punjab Police Handled Operation With Maturity: AAP
In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said that Punjab Police had surrounded Moga district entirely, and that Amritpal Singh had no choice but to surrender.
She said, "I want to congratulate the people of Punjab as well as Punjab Police for conducting this operation with so much maturity. This is a clear message that Punjab Police will not spare anyone who tries to disturb peace and harmony in the state. He (Amritpal) had no option. Punjab police had been pursuing the operation (to catch Amritpal) for so long. He was surrounded from all sides."
Security Enhanced Outside Dibrugarh Airport in Assam
The security arrangement is being enhanced outside Dibrugarh airport in Assam, as Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh is being brought to Dibrugarh jail, news agency ANI has reported.
Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab Police from Moga earlier today.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Addresses Media
After Amritpal Singh's arrest, Punjab chief minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann addressed the media. Here's what he said:
We got to know Amritpal's location late last night. I did not sleep. I was taking minute-by-minute updates from senior police officials.
Amritpal Singh, "who used to give guns in the hands of the state's youth," was arrested in the morning today from Rode village in Moga district.
He congratulated Punjab police for carrying out the operation with so much control and conviction. Mann claimed that the police were close to arresting Amritpal earlier too. "Par uss din goliyaan chal jaati (but, there would have been firing that day)," Mann said.
"A palki carrying the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book of the Sikhs) was being taken out in front of the Ajnala police station that day. It is a common belief that not even a drop of water should fall on the holy book. Hats off to Punjab Police for showing restraint that day and keeping the sanctity of the book intact," Mann claimed.
The chief minister said that he wants thorough investigation and stringent action, "but all in the bounds of law."
I want the youth of Punjab to have degrees in their hands, and not get brainwashed into doing illegal activities
Four of Punjab's veers were martyred yesterday, and Punjab has always sacrificed its youth for the security of the nation.
'Feel Proud He Surrendered Like A Warrior': Amritpal's Mother
Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh's mother Balwinder Kaur told news agency ANI, "We saw the news and came to know that he has surrendered. I felt proud that he surrendered like a warrior. We are prepared to fight a legal battle. We will go and meet him at the earliest."
"He surrendered from the gurdwara in which his Dastar Bandi (a ceremony held to mark the tying of the turban by a Sikh boy) had taken place. I am happy he came forward like a true Sikh. He was not cornered. He surrendered. He was doing good work by helping people with (drug and alcohol) addiction. I am proud of my son," she added.
'Got To Know Through TV That He Surrendered': Amritpal's Father
Tarsem Singh, father of Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh told news agency ANI, "Through TV we came to know that he surrendered before the police. We too wanted the same because people were being harassed due to him."
"We will fight the case, the entire community should fight it, he was working to save people from the drug menace; an offer has been made to us for it," he added.
Special Flight Carrying Amritpal Singh Lands in Assam
A special flight carrying Amritpal Singh, who was arrested from Punjab on Sunday morning, has landed at Dibrugarh airport in Assam, officals told news agency PTI.
'Big Achievement For Punjab Police': AAP Leader
"The (Punjab) government handled this sensitively. No violence was reported. This is a very big achievement for Punjab Police," AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told news agency PTI.
Amritpal Singh Brought To Dibrugarh Jail
'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, who was arrested by Punjab police from Moga district today, has been brought to Dibrugarh jail, news agency ANI has reported.
Would've Been Better If Amritpal Was Caught Sooner: Union Minister Anurag Thakur
"Strict action must be taken against those who spread terror and fear. Punjab (Police) took a little longer, it would have been better had this (Amritpal Singh's arrest) happened a little sooner," Union Minister Anurag Thakur told news agency ANI.
Punjab Police Hands Over Amritpal to Dibrugarh Jail Authorities in Assam
Punjab Police Hands Over Amritpal to Dibrugarh Jail Authorities in Assam
'Arrest Was Well Orchestrated': Former Punjab DGP
"All this (Amritpal Singh's arrest) was very well orchestrated and choreographed by his masters sitting abroad. Somebody was not only sheltering him, but also giving him all sorts of support, including money," former Punjab DGP Shashi Kant told news agency PTI.
'Arrest Could've Happened Earlier; No Need For Drama': SAD Leader
"If the police had worked properly, this arrest would have happened earlier. There was no need of all this drama. Now the arrest happened peacefully, did anything happen in Punjab?" Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljeet Singh Cheema told news agency ANI.
Amritpal Singh Brought To Dibrugarh Central Jail In Assam
'Amritpal to be Questioned by RAW, IB': Officals
Amritpal who was handed over to Dibrugarh Jail authorities on Sunday evening, will be questioned by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and other central agencies, an official said.
"He will be questioned on his association with his sympathisers and his source of funding. Intelligence agencies have got a lot of inputs regarding his association with handlers in Pakistan and other countries," the official said, as quoted by Times of India.