Amritpal's close aide Joga Singh arrested from Punjab's Sirhind

Punjab police have arrested 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh's main aide Joga Singh from Sirhind, DIG Border Range said during a press conference on Saturday. He was the main accomplice who arranged shelter for Amritpal in Pilibhit.

According to local media reports, Joga Singh was constantly in touch with Amritpal and Pappalpreet after their escape on March 18.

Speaking at a press conference, DIG Border Range Narinder Bhargav said,''Joga Singh originally hailed from Ludhiana and was currently living at a dera in Pilibhit. It was a joint operation of Amritsar rural police and Hoshiarpur police.''

Earlier in the day, two men were arrested for allegedly harbouring radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run after police launched a crackdown against him last month, officials said.

The arrested men have been identified as Rajdeep Singh of Babak village in Hoshiarpur district and Sarbjit Singh of Jalandhar district, the police said. Both Rajdeep Singh and Sarbjit Singh were produced before the duty magistrate on Friday night and sent to one-day police remand.

The police launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his 'Waris Punjab De' outfit last month. The Khalistan sympathiser, who is yet to be nabbed, escaped the police's net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing his appearance.

He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

(with PTI inputs)