‘Amritpal Singh spent 45 minutes in gurdwara, took priest’s phone’: Report

Radical Sikh preacher and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh on Saturday spent at least 45 minutes in the gurudwara with the police forces breathing down his neck amid its massive crackdown against the Khalistan sympathisers.

According to the account the preacher of the Gurudwara and his wife to various media outlets, Amritpal came to the gurudwara at around 1pm and left at 1.45pm. Till 4pm, the priest and his family members who provided him with clothes were unaware that he was being chased by the police.

Ranjit Singh, the priest of the Nangal Ambian gurudwara, told Indian Express that he was worried when Amritpal and his men came to his gurudwara as he thought they came to create a ruckus. Amritpal was accompanied by four men when he reached the gurudwara and they said they were going to a programme for which they needed some clothes.

“I was surprised but I did what they said and got my son’s clothes,” Ranjit Singh told Indian Express. Amritpal asked for a pair of long trousers from them. Amritpal’s men on the phone were asking someone about the ‘mahaul’ but that did not raise any suspicion at that time. Amritpal asked the priest if he could use his (priest’s) phone. Amritpal took his phone and returned it after a while when they were ready to leave the gurudwara.

Ranjit Singh’s wife Narinder Kaur told The Tribune that they removed their blue and saffron turban before leaving the gurudwara and picked the common turbans that were available in the house.

Where is Amritpal Singh?

Four days after the massive crackdown launched in Punjab for which the internet in the state has been partially suspended, the radical Sikh preacher remains absconding. With close to 180 arrests made in connection with the crackdown and the several illegal weapons recovered, the Punjab Police have pressed strong charges against Amritpal Singh. The police have not confirmed whether Amritpal has left Punjab, but Uttarakhand Police have started checking all gurdwara, hotels near the India-Nepal border. The Punjab police released several photos of Amritpal Singh in different appearances and attire — so that he can be caught even if he changes his looks.