SHAHKOT: The uncle and driver of absconding Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh have surrendered before the Punjab police amid the ongoing operation to catch the separatists leader.
Swarndeep Singh, SSP Jalandhar Rural told news agency ANI, “Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh’s uncle and driver surrendered before the Punjab police last night,” reported the agency.
According to reports, Amritpal’s uncle Harjeet Singh and driver Harpreet Singh surrendered before the police near a gurdwara near Shahkot in Punjab. They had absconded together with Amritpal in Mercedes and the police are negotiating with Amritpal’s uncle for his surrender.
The police have also recovered .32 bore pistol and 1 lakh rupees from Amritpal’s uncle Harjeet Singh. As per ABP Sanjha, his uncle is in talks with a DIG-level officer for negotiating Amritpal’s surrender.
The search operations have now entered day 3 since the state police launched a massive hunt to arrest pro-Khalistan leader, Amritpal Singh.
On Saturday, Waris De Punjab’s legal advisor Imaan Singh Khara said that fugitive pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh has been arrested by the Punjab Police in Shahkot. However, the police denied the claim and said that they were still making efforts to apprehend Amritpal Singh, reported news agency ANI. Imaan Singh Khara also alleged that the police wanted to kill Singh in a “fake encounter”.
Khara filed a writ petition with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, citing Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life. He claimed that the police cannot beat up anyone without following the proper court procedures. “Today I filed a criminal writ petition (Imaan Singh Khara vs State of Punjab) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This is a Habeas Corpus writ petition,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Khara asserted that there is a threat to Amritpal Singh’s life and that he is being held at Shahkot Police Station, but the police have not produced him before a magistrate within the stipulated 24-hour period. Police have a malicious intention,” Khara said.
The Punjab Police, on the other hand, maintained that Singh is still on the run, and they are conducting operations against the elements of Waris Punjab De and individuals who are trying to disrupt peace and harmony in the state. The police made 34 more arrests on Sunday, bringing the total to 112 individuals.
