Those who break law....: Punjab CM vows strict action against Khalistan

Hours after radical preacher Amritpal Singh was arrested, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that action will be taken against those who try to disrupt the country's peace and law.

In a televised statement, Bhagwant Mann said, "Amritpal Singh has been arrested after 35 days. Some anti-social elements were trying to disrupt peace and harmony in the state. I assure you that those, who break the law of the country will face action as per law."

"We will not disturb any innocent person. It is a matter of national security and we don't do vendetta politics," he added.

The chief minister further thanked the people of Punjab for their support, maintaining peace in the state during the 35-day-long operation to nab Amritpal Singh.

Punjab made huge sacrifices during the freedom struggle and we will continue to serve the nation, said Mann while referring to the death of 4 Army jawans in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch a couple of days ago.

"Punjab will not allow seeds of hatred to blossom," he added.

Reacting to Amritpal's arrest, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that Punjab took little time in taking action against the radical preacher.

"How long can an absconder be on the run? Law is mighty. Stringent action should be taken against those who spread terror and fear. Punjab took a little time, had it been done sooner it would have been even better," Thakur was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

Amritpal Singh was arrested from a Gurdwara in Rode village in Moga, where he surrendered to the police.

The radical Sikh preacher had been on the run since March 18 when Punjab police launched a massive manhunt against him and his aides. Many of his aides were booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempting to murder, attacking police personnel, and creating obstructions in public servants' lawful discharge of duty.

Nine of his associates are presently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh Central Jail. The Punjab police has invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Waris Punjab De's chief Amritpal.