Amritpal Singh’s Close Associate Nabbed in Amritsar

Amritpal Singh’s close associate Papalpreet Singh has been arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) in Amritsar. According to officials, Papalpreet is Amritpal’s mentor and has been in contact with Pakistan’s ISI. The arrest follows CCTV footage of Papalpreet showing him at a ‘dera’ (place for religious congregation) in a village in Hoshiarpur.

Punjab Police Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “He (Papalpreet) is the main associate of Amritpal Singh. He has been arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar.” He added that six other cases have also been registered against Papalpreet. Legal action will be taken against the accused.

Both Amritpal and Papalpreet have been on the run from the cops since March 18. It was believed that the duo split up in Hoshiarpur in order to escape from the police. CCTV footage from March 29 showed Papalpreet at a ‘dera’ in Tanauli village in Hoshiarpur. The police had launched a massive search operation in the area.

Earlier, it was reported that the suspect was nabbed from Hoshiarpur and that it was part of a Punjab Police operation that also involved its counter intelligence wing. However, as per Gill, Papalpreet was arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar.

He is believed to be the mentor of ‘Waris Punjab De’ activist group leader Amritpal Singh who has been on the run from the cops since March 18. He escaped by changing his clothes and switching multiple vehicles. He was also helped by a few of his aides, a lot of whom have been arrested. Amritpal also appeared in a video sometime after his escape, requesting a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ but the Akal Takht chief rejected his request.

Vineet Washington