Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh arrested from Punjab

After being on the run for just over a month, wanted radical Sikh separatist preacher Amritpal Singh was arrested today from north Indian state Punjab's Moga district, police said.

"The Punjab Police have arrested him," a senior police official said adding he would be sent to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Amritpal was arrested shortly after he delivered a speech at a religious congregation at gurudwara in Moga today, police said.

He was apprehended following the combined efforts of the Punjab Police and India's national intelligence. Police sources told HT that the pro-Khalistani leader is being shifted to Assam's Dibrugarh jail where other members of his outfit are already lodged.

The Punjab Police has already invoked stringent National Security Act (NSA) against 30-year-old Amritpal, a sympathiser of a separatist homeland for Sikhs.

Amritpal had been on the run since March 18 when a police crackdown was launched against him and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De' (Inheritors of Punjab).

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Who is Amritpal Singh, the man wanted by Punjab police?

He and his associates were booked for several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attacks on police personnel and obstructions in public servants' lawful discharge of duty.

Amritpal had led a mob which stormed a police station in Amritsar district of Punjab state in February, in an incident that had threatened to revived memories of the dark days of militancy in 1980s in the state.

His arrest came a few days after Amritpal's wife Kirandeep was stopped by Indian immigration officials from boarding a flight to London at Amritsar airport a few days ago.

On April 18, two more aides of the fugitive radical preacher were arrested at Mohali in Punjab, in a joint operation by Punjab and Delhi Police on April 18.

Earlier on April 15, Punjab Police arrested Amritpal's another close aide Joga Singh from Sirhind in the Fatehgarh Sahib district. Another close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested on April 10.

Almost a month ago, the Punjab police had issued a lookout circular and non-bailable warrant against Amritpal.