Amritpal Singh spotted crossing toll plaza, CCTV footage shows

A video has surfaced on social media in which Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, who is on the run after Punjab cops launched a massive operation to nab him on Saturday, is spotted sitting in the front seat of a car at a toll plaza.

The footage reportedly recorded on Saturday surfaced online on Tuesday. He is seen travelling in a Brezza. The fugitive preacher changed cars before changing his attire, sources informed NDTV.

He changed his traditional religious clothes to a shirt and trousers along with a turban before escaping on a bike, the report added.

Police on Saturday had launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of 'Waris Punjab De.' The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in the Jalandhar district.

"You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing. How did Amritpal Singh escape?," the website quoted the High Court as asking the Punjab government and called it an intelligence failure.

So far, 120 people have been arrested.

Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, claimed a lawyer.

During a hearing on the habeas corpus petition seeking the preacher's production in court, Justice N S Shekhawat also pulled up the state government over Amritpal Singh giving police the slip on Saturday and called it an intelligence failure.

The petition was filed by advocate Iman Singh Khara, seeking the "release" of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal advisor of Amritpal Singh and his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' The Punjab Police say the Khalistan sympathiser is still on the run after escaping their dragnet.

During Tuesday's proceedings in the high court, Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh was also present.

Khara claimed that Amritpal Singh was "illegally and forcibly" detained by police from the Shahkot area of Jalandhar.

Speaking to reporters after the court hearing, Khara said Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai filed its record pertaining to Amritpal Singh in the high court.

Khara said Ghai told the court that five to six FIRs have been registered in the matter. The petitioner further said that the AG told the court that NSA has been invoked against Amritpal Singh.

The step was taken after the senior superintendent of police Amritsar recommended it to the district magistrate. However, according to the reply filed by the state, Amritpal Singh has not been detained by police, said Khara.

During Tuesday's proceedings in the high court, Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh was also present.

Khara claimed that Amritpal Singh was "illegally and forcibly" detained by police from the Shahkot area of Jalandhar.

Speaking to reporters after the court hearing, Khara said Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai filed its record pertaining to Amritpal Singh in the high court.

Khara said Ghai told the court that five to six FIRs have been registered in the matter. The petitioner further said that the AG told the court that NSA has been invoked against Amritpal Singh.

The step was taken after the senior superintendent of police Amritsar recommended it to the district magistrate. However, according to the reply filed by the state, Amritpal Singh has not been detained by police, said Khara.

After filing the petition, the high court issued a notice of motion to the state government for March 21.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, clashing with police for the release of one of Amritpal's aide. An FIR dated February 24 stands registered against followers of 'Waris Punjab De', an organisation headed by Amritpal, for the attack on Ajnala Police Station, police had said.

With inputs from PTI