Punjab Police book Amritpal for extortion, rioting; recover motorcycle - Hindustan Times
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Punjab Police book Amritpal for extortion, rioting; recover motorcycle

Mar 22, 2023 03:21 PM IST

Case registered on complaint of Ranjit Singh, the granthi of the gurdwara at Nangal Ambian village, where Waris Punjab De chief stayed for 45 minutes after dodging the police team on March 18

Punjab Police on Wednesday booked Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his four accomplices for extortion and rioting at Shahkot police station. This is the eighth case against the radical Sikh leader, who has been on the run since the police’s crackdown on Saturday.

The motorcycle on which Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh fled from Nangal Ambian village on March 18 was found abandoned near a canal 60km away at Darapur village in Phillaur sub division, police said on Wednesday. (HT Photo)
The motorcycle on which Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh fled from Nangal Ambian village on March 18 was found abandoned near a canal 60km away at Darapur village in Phillaur sub division, police said on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

The case was registered on the complaint of Ranjit Singh, the granthi of the gurdwara at Nangal Ambian village, where Amritpal stayed for 45 minutes after dodging the police team on March 18.

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Also read: Amritpal supporters evicted from Harike bridge after lathicharge

The case was registered under Sections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death), 148 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Arms Act.

To evade arrest, Amritpal escaped from the busy Mehatpur town market of Jalandhar district on Saturday afternoon by ditching his Mercedes car for a Maruti Brezza (PB02-EE-3343) in which he reached the Nangal Ambian gurdwara, 17km from Mehatpur, around 1.15pm.

In his statement to the police, granthi Ranjit Singh said: “Amritpal pointed a gun at my son, Tejinder Singh, and demanded clothes to change into. He threatened to kill him if he did not relent.”

During his questioning on Tuesday evening, Ranjit Singh told the police that he was not in the gurdwara when his son called up to say that Amritpal had come to pay obeisance. “Amritpal then asked for a pair of trousers and a shirt. He was given another pair as the first didn’t fit. He was served langar (food from the community kitchen). He changed his attire before leaving on a motorcycle. He was at the gurdwara for almost an hour and was waiting for someone to pick him up,” Ranjit Singh said.

Police impound motorcycle found near canal

A police official said that Amritpal changed his baptised Sikh attire and wore the shirt and trousers before fleeing on the motorcycle. “He made a few calls from the granthi’s phone. Investigation is on to verify who he contacted before leaving Nangal Ambian,” the official said.

A day after CCTV footage of Amritpal riding pillion on a motorcycle surfaced, police recovered the Bajaj Platina used by him to flee from Nangal Ambian village on March 18.

The motorcycle was found abandoned near a canal at Darapur village in Phillaur sub division, 60km from Nangal Ambian.

Four handlers booked for providing logistics

A day after the police recovered the Maruti Brezza from the house of Amritpal’s accomplice Manpreet Singh Manna at Nawan Killa, the Shahkot police arrested him along with three others for providing shelter and logistical support to Waris Punjab De chief.

Police recovered a .315-bore rifle and a walkie-talkie set from the Brezza.

The other accused were identified as Gurdeep Singh Deepa of Bal Naun village in Jalandhar district, Harpreet Singh Happy of Kotla Naudh Singh village in Hoshiarpur, and Gurbhej Singh of Godara in Faridkot.

They were booked under Sections 212 (harbouring an offender), 216 (harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered) of the IPC and other sections of the Arms Act.

The FIR said that the accused arranged two motorcycles, a Royal Enfield and a Hero Honda Splendor, for Amritpal and his accomplices.

“The accused took the Brezza from Amritpal and parked it at Manna’s house,” the FIR said.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Navrajdeep Singh is a senior staff correspondent. He covers agriculture, crime, local bodies, health and education in the Patiala district of Punjab.

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