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Kabul: A massive search operation has been launched in the north Indian state of Punjab to arrest a radical Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathizer, Amritpal Singh, after he was declared a “fugitive” by the Punjab police and has been on the run since Saturday.
The operation that continued on the second consecutive day on Sunday has led to declaring the state of Punjab on high alert, along with an internet shutdown throughout the state that is home to around 30 million people.
The state-wide manhunt has also led to the arrests of a total of 78 people including the seven aides of Amritpal so far, along with the seizure of Amritpal’s vehicle and several other vehicles that contained live ammunition, according to the police.
The mega-crackdown comes a month after Amritpal along with his supporters stormed into a police station with swords and guns for the release of one of his aides, and led to six police officials being injured in the clash.
In the 1980s the north Indian state was rocked by a violent separatist movement for the creation of an independent country for the Sikhs, called Khalistan, and had led to the deaths of thousands of people.
The operation is said to resemble operation Blue Star, which was launched in 1984 by then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to nab the head of the movement, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Meanwhile Khalistani Supporters on Sunday pulled down Indian flag at High Commission of India in London which sparks diplomatic row between the two countries and India summoned the senior British diplomat in New Delhi to convey its “strong protest” over actions taken by “separatist and extremist elements” against the Indian High Commission in the UK.
