Punjab Police have slapped the National Security Act (NSA) on five associates of Khalistan sympathiser and ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief, Amritpal Singh. The police suspect an ISI angle and foreign funding in the case. According to a statement by Punjab Police spokesperson IG Sukchain Singh Gill, the accused were forming ‘Anandpur Khalsa Fauj’ (AKF) of close associates of Amritpal. The police have also found a walkie-talkie set from one of the vehicles used by Amritpal.
While Amritpal Singh remains an absconder, 114 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the March 18 crackdown on Khalistani activists. The IG’s statement that Amritpal remains an absconder comes 48 hours after police attempted to nab him in Jalandhar.
NSA detainees are not required to be presented in a court of law for remand, and the position of these detainees would be reassessed after three weeks, the IG said.
The police have lodged six FIRs so far against Amritpal and his associates, including causing disharmony and obstruction in police working and attack on police, besides possessing illegal weapons.
The police have strong suspicion of the involvement of Pakistan’s ISI besides foreign funding. The accused were using hawala channels also. The IG stressed that there was total normalcy in Punjab and the cordon and search operation has been successful.
The suspension of Twitter handles of Punjab journalists was not commented on by IG Gill. He claimed it could have been done to maintain public order, and some steps are necessary to maintain law and order, which are reviewed from time to time.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
