Did Amritpal surrender or he was arrested? Here's what Punjab IGP says

Reports in some media outlets claimed that radical preacher Amritpal Singh surrendered on Sunday after being on the run for 35 days, but a section of media stated that he was arrested by the Punjab cops.

The confusion started after former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode claimed that fugitive Amritpal Singh reached Rode village on Saturday night and he surrendered before the cops.

"I got to know from the police that Amritpal is going to surrender. I reached here sometime before his surrender. After paying obeisance and reciting Path went to gurdwara where he addressed the Sangat (gathering). He explained the reasons for being late in surrender and also thanked people who helped him including providing him stays. He went outside of the gurdwara and surrendered before the police. The reports that Amritpal was arrested or forced to surrender are false. Police would have not allowed him to address a gathering, if they knew he was here," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

However, Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill clarified the reports saying that he was "arrested" and Khalistani sympathiser had no way to escape as he was surrounded by all sides.

"It is very clear that we have arrested him, he was surrounded from all sides and had no way to escape. Whatever he said inside the Gurudwara Sahib it is not right to comment on it," the top cop told at the press meet.

However, the IGP highlighted the point that the cops did not enter the Gurudwara Sahib. "...Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Punjab Police at around 6.45 am today morning in village Rode. A joint operation was conducted by Amritsar Police and the Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police. He was located in village Rode based on operational inputs by Punjab Police. To maintain sanctity, the Police didn't enter Gurudwara Sahib. He has been taken to Dibrugarh under NSA...," he said.

According to the officer, Amritpal Singh, who was on the run since the Punjab cops launched a crackdown against him on March 18, was arrested around 6.45 am. The manhunt was launched after his supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides, Lovepreet Toofan.

"NSA warrants were issued against Amritpal Singh and those warrants have been executed today morning...Amritpal Singh has been arrested by Punjab Police around 6.45 am today morning in the village Rode," said Sukhchain Singh Gill.

The fugitive is being sent to a prison in Dibrugarh in Assam.