The ruling BJP today called on Sikh bodies to ‘isolate’ Khalistan supporters as the search for Amritpal Singh entered its third day.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the party’s prominent Sikh leader, told reporters that everyone must condemn the London incident in which some Khalistan supporters tore down the national flag from the Indian High Commission building in London.
The Foreign Office summoned Britain’s top diplomat to New Delhi late that evening and demanded an explanation for the “lack of security” at the High Commission’s premises.
The British government’s “indifference” to Indian diplomats and staff was “unacceptable”, the statement read.
Protests against the crackdown on Amritpal Singh began last night. Cellphone videos posted on social media showed protesters scaling the building and removing the Indian flag.
In Brisbane, Australia, pro-Khalistan groups held what they called a referendum on Khalistan.
Four of Amritpal Singh’s top aides, arrested and flown to Dibrugarh in upper Assam, have been charged under the strict National Security Act (NSA), which allows police to detain suspects in no any prison in the country.
Intelligence reports suggest that Amritpal Singh used drug rehab centers and a gurdwara to stockpile weapons and groom youths to carry out suicide attacks.
The crackdown comes a month after Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed into a police station with swords and guns for the release of one of his aides. Six police officers were injured in the clash.
Sources say Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had discussed the plan to arrest Amritpal Singh with Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting on March 2.
So far, police have arrested more than 110 associates of Amritpal Singh. Several members of his group “Waris Punjab De” were also arrested for questioning.
This article is originally published on news-24.fr