Miscalculation by the Punjab police, coupled with strategic planning by Sikh radical preacher Amritpal Singh paved the way for his dramatic escape on Saturday after the state-wide crackdown was launched against the Waris Punjab De outfit.
As the state police team decided to take the Khalistan ideologue and Waris Punjab De head Amritpal into custody on Saturday, they believed that the self-proclaimed Sikh preacher will surrender. But, to their surprise, he managed to give the cops a slip despite their best possible effort to nab him. Even after three days of the police action, Amritpal is still out of Punjab Police’s reach.
“Based on his speeches and whatever he talks, we expected that he would surrender…But the police officers, who were there on the ground, had made their best efforts,” said the state Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill on Monday.
Notably, there were huge posse of police vehicles and teams that chased Amritpal for about 20-25 kms, before he managed to escape from the police dragnet.
Already in know that the Punjab Police was chasing him, Amritpal Singh — who was travelling in a convoy of four vehicles in Moga — managed to give them a slip by fleeing in a Maruti Brezza from a busy market in Mehatpur village of Jalandhar district, with the help of his chacha (uncle) Harjit Singh who kept the cops busy.
Harjit Singh has surrendered in Jalandhar at 1.30 am on Monday before a police team, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Border Range, Narendra Bhargav; Amritsar Rural SSP Satinder Singh; and Pathankot SSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh.
“During interrogation, Harjit revealed that they received a call and someone informed them about the heavy police deployment everywhere. At first, they decided to flee in the Mercedes from Mehatpur, but then Amritpal suggested that he and Harjit, both, should flee separately. They then ask one of their supporters to get a Brezza at Mehatpur market where they stop the car, and Harjit diverted the attention. During this time, Amritpal fled in Brezza along with a bodyguard. And Harjit took the Mercedes which the police continued to chase thinking that Amritpal is inside,” said a senior police official, requesting anonymity.
Upon his arrest, the police have recovered a pistol and Rs one lakh from Harjit and impounded the Mercedes car. The police have also confiscated Harjit’s mobile phone for forensic examination. The police has also invoked national Security Act against Harjit, and he has also been taken to Dibrugarh in Assam, where already Amritpal’s four close aides were shifted a day before.
Sources maintained that Harjit played a crucial role in Amritpal’s rise. It has also been learnt that Harjit has been in touch with Pakistan-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode.