How Centre-State planned to nab Amritpal Singh

Self-styled Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh is on the run as the cops launched a massive operation to nab the Khalistani preacher.

It comes weeks after a meeting between Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shah and Mann had discussed about the issue at March 2 meeting, NDTV reported citing people with direct knowledge of the matter. Both the Centre and State had decided to work together on the issue.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station in the outskirts of the Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of Amritpal's aide. During the incident, six policemen including a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered injuries.

On Saturday, the Waris Punjab De chief was arrested while he was being driven in a convoy to Jalandhar as around 100 police vans chased the Khalistan sympathiser.

He escaped from his residence in Jallupur village in Amristar. However, it was reported that he was caught near Jalandhar's Nakodar area, but the cops have stated that he is on the run.

The cops wanted to nab the Singh after G20 meetings in the state. In a matter of 24 hours, the radical preacher was arrested, the NDTV report added.

Some supporters of 'Waris Punjab De' chief shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them. A video also showed Amritpal sitting in a vehicle and one of his aides could be heard saying policemen were after 'Bhai saab' (Amritpal), PTI reported.

Another supporter in a field shared a video in which he was claiming that policemen were after him. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and harmony. "Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony.

Apart from Amritpal Singh, the Punjab Police arrested his 78 associates, so far.

A follower of Bhindranwale, killed in the infamous Operation Blue Star in June 1984, Singh had returned to India from Dubai recently. After the death of actor Deep Sidhu in a road accident, Amritpal Singh was declared heir of Waris Punjab De.