154 arrested for 'disturbing' peace as Amritpal continues to evade arrest

As fugitive Amritpal Singh continues to evade police for the fifth consecutive day, Punjab Police said they have arrested 154 people for disturbing 'peace and harmony' in the state

As fugitive Amritpal Singh continues to evade police for the fifth consecutive day, Punjab Police on Tuesday said they have arrested 154 people for disturbing 'peace and harmony' in the state, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Gill informed.

IGP Gill reaffirmed that the situation in the state is totally stable and under control.

"A total of 154 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state," IGP Gill revealed at a press conference.

Punjab Police on Saturday launched an operation against Amritpal Singh and his aides.

He said that a lookout circular (LOC) and non-bailable warrant (NBW) have been issued against Amritpal Singh, who remains a fugitive and efforts are being made to arrest him. Punjab Police are getting full cooperation from other states and central agencies in this action, he added.

While sharing pictures of Amritpal with different looks, IGP appealed to people to disclose the whereabouts of the fugitive.

Divulging more details, the IGP said that Jalandhar Rural Police have recovered a Brezza car (PB02-EE-3343), which was used by Amritpal to escape, when police teams were chasing his cavalcade on March 18.

"Police have also arrested four accused persons identified as Manpreet Singh alias Manna (28) of Nava Killa in Shahkot, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa (34) of village Bal Nau in Nakodar, Harpreet Singh alias Happy (36) of village Kotla Nodh Singh in Hoshiarpur and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja of village Gondara in Faridkot. These four accused persons facilitated Amritpal to escape," he said.

"It has come to fore that Amritpal Singh and his aides have also changed their clothes in one Gurdwara Sahib in village Nangal Ambia to change their attire and absconded from there on two motorcycles," he said.

IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that police teams have also arrested and detained Kulwant Singh Raoke of village Raoke in Moga and Gurinderpal Singh alias Guri Aujla of Kapurthala under the National Security Act.

The IGP informed that the Jalandhar Rural police has registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) against Amritpal's uncle Harjit Singh of Kallu Kheda in Amritsar and his driver Harpreet Singh of village Madoka in Moga for trespassing and taking shelter for two days at the house of Sarpanch Manpreet Singh of village Uddowal in Mehatpur, Jalandhar on gunpoint.

"Both the accused persons had come in their Mercedes car (HR72E1818). An FIR no. 28 dated March 20 has been registered under sections 449, 342, 506 and 34 of IPC and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at Police Station Mehatpur," he informed.

Meanwhile, the IGP also informed that 37 persons have been taken into preventive custody.