Punjab police launched a late-night search Tuesday for fugitive Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh in and around Marnaian Kalan village of Hoshiarpur after an abandoned Toyota Innova was found near a gurdwara, triggering suspicion that it was used by him. A team of the counter intelligence wing had chased the Innova carrying three people on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road. The trio, one of whom is suspected to be Amritpal, fled after abandoning the getaway vehicle near Gurdwara Bhai Chanchal Singh in the village around 8.30pm.
A villager said the trio was seen scaling the gurdwara’s outer wall. Police called in reinforcements and searched every house in the village. Teams were scouring crop fields as well. Amritpal has been evading capture for 11 days.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab government had informed the Punjab and Haryana high court that the state police was “close to” capturing Amritpal. “The state is going through a very sensitive phase. We are closely working in coordination with other security agencies and are close to arresting him,” Punjab advocate general Vinod Ghai said.
A villager said the trio was seen scaling the gurdwara’s outer wall. Police called in reinforcements and searched every house in the village. Teams were scouring crop fields as well. Amritpal has been evading capture for 11 days.
Earlier in the day, the Punjab government had informed the Punjab and Haryana high court that the state police was “close to” capturing Amritpal. “The state is going through a very sensitive phase. We are closely working in coordination with other security agencies and are close to arresting him,” Punjab advocate general Vinod Ghai said.
