Security enhanced across Punjab as efforts on to nab 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh

Security has been enhanced across the state of Punjab as searches continue to nab proKhalistan outfit Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh who has been declared a fugitive hours after a massive operation by the policePolice personnel have also been deployed outside Amritpal Singhs residence in Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar as the police efforts are underway to nab him Meanwhile the Khalistani sympathiser outfit chief is currently on the run as per the police Earlier on Saturday late evening Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal confirmed that the radical leader had been declared a fugitiveIn an exclusive interview with ANI the Jalandhar Commissioner said Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has been declared a fugitive His two cars were seized and gunmen nabbed We also checked if the firearms of his security escorts had been procured legally A case has been registered Punjab Police have launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underwayAmritpal Singhs father however claimed that Punjab Police conducted searches at his residence in Amritsar but did not find anything illegal Tarsem Singh Amritpals father on late Saturday night said the police should have arrested him before he left the house We dont have any information about his whereabouts They carried out a search at our residence for 34 hours but did not find anything illegal Police should have arrested him before he left home said Tarsem Singh in an exclusive interview with ANI on SaturdayEarlier on Saturday Punjab Police launched a massive statewide Cordon And Search Operation CASO in the state against elements of Waris Punjab De WPD against whom several criminal cases stand registered During the operation a total of 78 persons have been arrested so far while several others have been detained for questioningAlso read Separatist arrested Punjab suspends InternetSharing more details the official spokesperson of Punjab Police said On Saturday afternoon several activists of WPD were intercepted by the Police at the ShahkotMalsian Road in Jalandhar district and seven persons were arrested on the spot Several others including Amritpal Singh are on the run and a massive manhunt has been launched to nab themDuring the statewide operation nine weapons including one 315 bore rifle seven rifles of 12 bore one revolver and 373 live cartridges of different calibres have been recovered so far said an officer The spokesperson informed that WPD elements are involved in four criminal cases relating to spreading disharmony among classes attempt to murder attacking police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servantsCase FIR No 39 dated 24022023 stands registered against WPD elements for the attack on Ajnala Police Station he added He said that all persons involved in criminal offences shall be dealt with in accordance with the law and all persons wanted by the police should offer themselves to the process of law Their constitutional rights of legal defence shall be protected he addedPolice requested all the citizens not to pay heed to fake news and rumours Situation in the state is completely stable All persons indulging in mischievous activities for disturbing peace and harmony in the state shall be dealt with strictly the police said Earlier in the day mobile Internet services were also suspended in several districts of Punjab until 12 noon on SundayThe police action came almost over three weeks after Amritpals supporters clashed with uniformed personnel at the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar last month demanding the release of one of Amritpals close aides Lovepreet Toofan On February 23 thousands of his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station flashing swords and highcalibre firearms and threatening the police with dire consequences if they did not release Lovepreet Toofan who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and abducting a manThe supporters brandishing swords and guns broke through police barricades erected outside the Ajnala police station The police later said in the light of the evidence presented it has been decided that Lovepreet Singh Toofan will be discharged Lovepreet Singh was released from jail on February 24 following orders of a court in Ajnala on an application by the policeReacting to the incident Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said that these 1000 people dont represent Punjab and alleged that they are funded by Pakistan to disrupt peace in the stateThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever