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By Preeti Choudhry: Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, who was arrested on Sunday morning in Punjab’s Moga after a month-long chase, was under immense pressure ever since his wife Kirandeep Kaur was put on surveillance, sources in the Punjab government told India Today. Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur, a British national, was being tracked by Punjab Police, sources said.
His arrest came three days after his wife Kirandeep Kaur was held for questioning at the Amritsar airport while she was trying to flee to London.
According to police, Amritpal Singh was arrested in Rode village in Punjab’s Moga district on Sunday morning after police personnel surrounded him, leaving him with no way to escape.
Sources in the Punjab government said the self-styled preacher feared that Punjab Police was going to arrest him and would implicate her for helping him escape. Amritpal Singh routed funds through his wife and stashed them in the UK, sources said.
Kirandeep Kaur’s visa to India was valid till July and she wanted to leave India before that, sources said. Amritpal Singh couldn’t flee India as he wanted his wife to safely get out of the country first as he feared her arrest.
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON AMRITPAL SINGH’s ARREST HERE
OPERATION MONITORED BY PUNJAB CM
Amritpal Singh, who tried to rebrand himself as Bhindranwale 2.0, was arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Amritsar Police and the intelligence wing of Punjab Police. At the time of publishing this report, he was en route to Dibrugarh in Assam after cops charged him under provisions of the National Security Act (NSA).
Punjab’s Inspector General of Police, Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “National Security Act (NSA) warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and these have been executed today morning. He was located in village Rode based on operational inputs by Punjab Police. He was surrounded from all sides, the village was surrounded by Punjab police.”
The entire operation was monitored by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann throughout the night, sources said. It was confirmed around 4 am that Amritpal Singh was surrounded from all sides with no escape route.
ALSO READ | Amritpal Singh’s wife held for questioning at Amritsar airport, was trying to flee to London
Amritpal Singh surrendered in Rode village in Moga, the native place of Khalistani separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Bhindranwale hailed from Rode village and Amritpal Singh was last year anointed the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit at an event held in this village.
Punjab Police cordoned the village and only two to three cops went to the Gurdwara to nab Amritpal Singh. The chief minister had given strict instructions not to storm the Gurdwara. Police did not enter the gurudwara in which Amritpal was present to maintain its sanctity.
ALSO READ | Amritpal Singh arrested. Amit Shah said THIS just a day earlier
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