Amritpal Singh, the leader of the alleged pro-Khalistan organization ‘Waris Punjab De’, and his associates are currently the subject of an arrest warrant. On Saturday, Punjab Police appealed to the citizens of the state to “maintain peace and harmony” and avoid “false news.”
“Avoid rumours on social media. We request all citizens to maintain peace and harmony. Punjab Police is working to maintain law and order. Citizens are requested not to panic and not spread fake news or hate speech,” Punjab Police tweeted.
ਸਾਰੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਦਭਾਵਨਾ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਣ।
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਘਬਰਾਉਣ ਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਜਾਅਲੀ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਨਫ਼ਰਤ ਭਰੇ ਭਾਸ਼ਣ ਨਾ ਫੈਲਾਉਣ। pic.twitter.com/9SHo2y4MFL
— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) March 18, 2023
As the State police launched an operation to apprehend the Khalistan supporter, mobile Internet services were also suspended in a number of districts of Punjab until noon on Sunday.
Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh arrested; Section 144 imposed in Muktsar
“All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be suspended from March 18, (12:00 hours) to March 19, (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety,” Punjab’s department of Home Affairs and Justice said.
Last month, Amritpal’s supporters clashed with police personnel at the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar, demanding the release of one of Amritpal’s closest advisers, Lovepreet Toofan. The police action occurred nearly three weeks after the clashes.
Punjab News LIVE: Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh arrested after dramatic chase
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa praised the action by Punjab Police and urged the Punjabi people to maintain peace in the state.
“I applaud the actions of the Punjab Police. “My request to all Punjabis is to maintain peace and not to believe rumors,” he wrote on Twitter.
Thousands of his supporters assaulted the Ajnala police station on February 23, brandishing swords and high-caliber firearms and threatening the police with dire consequences if they did not release Lovepreet Toofan, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and kidnapping a man.
The supporters, armed with swords and firearms, breached the police barricades set up in front of the Ajnala police station.
Punjab police launches action against separatist leader Amritpal Singh; internet suspended
Later, the police announced that Lovepreet Singh Toofan will be released “in light of the evidence presented.”
Lovepreet Singh was released from prison on February 24 on the orders of an Ajnala court in response to a police petition.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responded to the incident by stating that these “one thousand people” do not represent Punjab and that they are “funded by Pakistan” to disrupt peace in the state.
