As the Police continued their flag marches in various areas of Punjab on Sunday afternoon, a pin-drop silence is being observed in the state.
Though there are reports of protests from a few places, people have mostly restricted themselves to their homes even as internet and SMS services remained snapped for the second day.
On Saturday, Punjab Police launched a massive cordon and search operation to arrest the head of Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh, however, he managed to evade arrest. Later in the day, several reports emerged stating that Amritpal had been arrested.
“Amritpal Singh has been booked under Arms Act. The crackdown will continue till his arrest,” Amritsar SSP said.
During the cordon and search operation at least eighty seven including a senior leader of SAD A, an actor and a research scholar have been detained, however, due to an internet blockade there is no clarity on the number of arrests. All the information outflow from Punjab is coming through official press releases or statements.
Apart from #Amritpal_Singh, Punjab Police has also arrested Harpal Singh Baler, senior leader of @SAD_Amritsar
As per Baler’s allegations in the video, Police entered the room of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, wearing shoes and had no arrest warrants either.
What is happening in Punjab? pic.twitter.com/7bfIfuiuNk— Karanjot Singh Virk (@VirkKaranjot) March 18, 2023
Later in the night, Police issued a statement declaring the Sikh preacher as a fugitive claiming that he had not been arrested as of then. On Sunday, several social media users including his aides claimed that Amritpal Singh had been arrested.
One of his aide in a viral video claimed that the Sikh leader had been arrested and detained at Shahpur Police station in Punjab, a video from inside the Police station has surfaced on Social media. The video is doing rounds on Social media and allegedly shows Amritpal Singh being taken in a Police vehicle inside the Police station.
Amritpal's follower shares a video speculating their leader's arrest and transporting to another city or state.#AmritpalSingh #Punjab @PunjabPoliceInd @DGPPunjabPolice @AAPPunjab #Khalistan #AmritpalArrest pic.twitter.com/ucPHR7vWs4
— Payal Mohindra (@payal_mohindra) March 19, 2023
The uncertainty over the arrest has created panic in Punjab and several residents, politicians have demanded clarity for the Government over the issue.
Warning the Government of serious repercussions, Sangrur Member of Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann Sunday said that he fears that Amritpal Singh, the head of Waris Punjab De may be killed in a staged encounter.
Speaking to the media, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief said that he has apprehensions that Amritpal Singh may be killed in an extra-judicial encounter. “I warn the Government to stop thinking on those lines as it will lead to massive anger among Sikh community globally,” he said.
He made the comments in the backdrop of the claims made by various aides of Amritpal that the WPD head was arrested by Punjab Police.
“In the light of contrasting news from various media outlets, I have apprehensions of a possible extra judicial encounter of S Amritpal Singh. I advise @BhagwantMann @PunjabGovtIndia to refrain from any further excesses being committed on our youth,” Simaranjit Singh Mann wrote.