Amritpal Singh case HIGHLIGHTS: Car in which pro-Khalistani leader fled recovered; lookout notice issued

Authorities issued a lookout circular issued against Khalistani sympathizer Amritpal Singh and airports were put on alert.

As the hunt for the Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh is still underway, the Punjab Police on Tuesday released at least seven new photos of the radical leader and 'Waris Punjab De' chief who's on run and have asked people to help the government nab him. "There are several pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attires. We are releasing all of these pictures. I request you display them so that people can help us to arrest him in this case," said Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.

"The Brezza car, in which Amritpal Singh fled, has been recovered by the Police. He was helped by four people," said Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill

"There can be no patriots like the Sikhs. The Sikh gurus sacrificed their lives to protect the religion in India. More than 70% of the total sacrifices during India's freedom struggle were made by Sikhs. Today if anyone disrespects India's flag, then it's a disrespect of the sacrifices made by our Gurus. Sikhs are an integral part of India," Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu on Khalistani movement.

"This has happened not only in the US but also in the UK when some Khalistan supporters attacked our nation’s flag. The entire chain of Amritpal is being controlled by ISI. Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI is running this whole plan, not today but for the last several years," said Union Minister RK Sigh.

Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, who is on run since Punjab police started massive crackdown on pro-Khalistani elements, was seen in a car at a toll plaza in Jalandhar. A CCTV video footage dated May 18 surfaced on Tuesday.

Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai has said that the National Security Act has been invoked against Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his associates. 

As Amritpal Singh, the self-styled Sikh preacher and head of 'Waris Punjab De', continues to evade police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may take over the case. A team of NIA has reached Punjab and is speaking to the senior officials of the Punjab Police. There are now high possibilities that the NIA may take over the case on Tuesday. The sources said that the NIA is seeking details and documents related to the case.

Speaking over the matter, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that strict punishment will be taken against miscreants who tried to spoil the environment of Punjab with the help of foreign power. "In the last few days, some elements were talking to spoil the environment of Punjab with the help of foreign powers & were giving hateful speeches. Action has been taken against them and they have been arrested and strict punishment will be given to them," he added. 

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has commended the work done by Punjab Police, Punjab & Central Govt to arrest Amritpal Singh.  Anti-national elements should not be spared. VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said that there was a need for a crackdown on Khalistan supporters who were attacking India's flag. "Whosoever is funded by ISI, Pakistan, international terrorist org, action must be taken against them. Politicians who are politicizing this incident must condemn this while ignoring party politics. We can’t let anyone hurt the nation’s sentiments," he added. 

Punjab government stated that all mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, shall continue to remain suspended in the districts Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Sub-Division Ainala in Amritsar, areas adjoining YPS chowk and Airport Road both in SAS Nagar, till March 23 noon in the interest of public safety. 

Uttarakhand police said that a strict vigil is being kept by security officials and the intelligence dept in the state's Udham Singh Nagar district. They further said close monitoring is also being done to see if anyone is supporting Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh or is putting any posts on social media in support of him. 

'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh's uncle  Harjeet Singh has been brought to Central Jail in Dibrugarh, Assam. 

Punjab Police arrested four associates of fugitive Amritpal Singh from Samraala village in Ludhiana. The four have been identified as Ishwar Singh, resident of village Manupur, Gurpreet Singh, resident of village Utala, Sukhwinder Singh, resident of village Bhagwanpura and Jagtar Singh, resident of village Ranwa. They were reportedly inciting people to block the road against police action on Amritpal. 

The United States has strongly condemned the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by a group of separatist Sikhs, terming it absolutely unacceptable. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters on Sunday broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.