Punjab Police said they have arrested four persons for allegedly helping pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh escape even as the manhunt to nab the radical preacher continued on the fourth day on Tuesday. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh alias Manna, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja.
According to police they helped Amritpal, the chief of 'Punjab Waris De' group, to escape in a car while he was being chased by cops in Jalandhar on Saturday. During their questioning, it came to the fore that Amritpal first went to a gurdwara in Nangal Ambian village where he “changed his clothes, and wore a shirt and pants, and escaped along with three others on two bikes”.
Police had intercepted Amritpal's cavalcade on Saturday morning, but the separatist leader managed to give the cops a slip and escaped their dragnet. Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill that the Brezza car in which he was travelling has been seized and that a .315 bore rifle, some swords and a walkie-talkie set were found in it.
Also read
- Indian spy agency carried out targeted killings of terrorists in Pakistan, claims report
- Pannun case a 'serious issue', working with India to hold culprits accountable: US
- 'Contract to Kill': How India got YouTube to block access to CBC documentary on Nijjar's killing
- Spycam, smartphones recovered from Assam jail housing separatist Amritpal
Police also released four photographs of Amritpal in different attire and appealed to people to help tracing him.
'Won't allow to disturb peace'
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said action has been taken against those who “at the instance of foreign forces” were speaking about disturbing the state's peace and giving hate speeches.
Mann said Punjab's peace, harmony, and the country's progress were his top priorities and asserted that nobody will be allowed to disturb the harmonious environment of the state.
"(They) were giving hate speeches and speaking against the law. Action has been taken against them and they have been arrested. They will be given the strictest punishment because the AAP is a 'kattar deshbhakt and imandar' (staunch nationalist and honest) party,” said Mann in his first reaction to the police action.
