Chandigarh: Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was nabbed in Amritsar district and detained under the National Security Act, police said on Monday.
Addressing the media here, Punjab Police Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “He (Papalpreet) is the main associate of Amritpal. He has been arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar." He said Papalpreet has been detained under NSA and that six other cases have also been registered against him.
Papalpreet is considered to be Amritpal's mentor and has allegedly been in contact with Pakistan's ISI. Gill said further legal action will be taken against Papalpreet. The police had been conducting searches at many places, including Hoshiarpur, to nab the duo who had been hoodwinking the security men since March 18 when police had launched a crackdown against the Khalistan sympathiser and his aides.
Papalpreet's arrest comes days after a CCTV footage made the rounds on social media in which he could be seen at a 'dera' (place for religious congregation) in a village in Hoshiarpur.
It is believed that both Papalpreet and Amritpal could have separated in Hoshiarpur following the police chase of their vehicle.
The Khalistan sympathiser escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.
He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.