Khalistani separatist Amritpal Sigh still on run: Centre asks BSF, SSB to be alert at border posts

Two photos of the fugitive with and without turban has been given to BSF and SSB

Amritpal Singh who is the chief of Waris Punjab de has been on the run and has the possibility to cross over international borders. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the chiefs of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to be alert in the border areas since it had been learnt that he might cross over the International Border in Punjab or via the India-Nepal border.

According to an officer, a message was sent to all BSF and SSB units, along with two photos of Amritpal, one with and one without his turban. "It has been reliably learned that Amritpal Singh, the leader of a pro-Khalistan outfit, has been declared a fugitive by Punjab Police. He could have crossed the India-Nepal border or the International Border in Punjab. "They have been instructed to be vigilant and to sensitise all personnel stationed at border posts," an officer said.

On Saturday, police planned to arrest Amritpal near Mehatpur on the Jalandhar-Moga Road. He eluded them, according to sources, and left his vehicle and mobile phone near Nakodar. Police arrested 78 of his associates in a statewide crackdown on Saturday. The search for Amritpal entered its second day, with district police chiefs conducting flag marches in major Punjab towns and the state government suspending internet access until Monday noon. 

Amritpal and seven of his associates were arrested under the Arms Act on Sunday after they claimed to have recovered six 12-bore rifles and 196 cartridges. According to Amritsar (Rural) SSP Satinder Singh, over 100 illegal cartridges were seized from an Amritpal associate. Later, the seven people detained from his team were sent to police custody till March 23

Intelligence agency officials have said that Amritpal went to Dubai in 2012 to work as a truck driver in his family's transport business. He also met Jaswant Singh Rode, brother of Pakistan-based proscribed Khalistani operative Lakhbir Singh Rode, and militant Paramjit Singh Pamma at the time. They are suspected of passing him on to the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who offered him money to rekindle Khalistan sentiments in Punjab.