As the search for Waris Punjab De leader Amritpal Singh continued for the second day, police across Punjab and Haryana continued a crackdown on the organisation’s supporters, making 34 preventive arrests Sunday to maintain law and order.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said senior police officials led flag marches by district police and paramilitary forces. Peace committee meetings were also held in all 23 districts.
A total of 112 people were arrested over Saturday and Sunday.

Here is an overview of the police action across both states:

Sirsa: Police rounded up supporters of the radical Sikh preacher who tried to block the Sirsa-Hisar national highway. Sirsa SP Arpit Jain said 60 people were being questioned about the protest. Police have deployed patrolling teams and installed five checkpoints to curb protests, he said.

Jalandhar: Two FIRs were registered Sunday against Amritpal and his associates. One of the cases was registered over a weapon seized from an abandoned vehicle in Shahkot’s Salema village. The vehicle is believed to have been a part of Amritpal’s convoy. Police also seized several dozen live cartridges from the vehicle. The second case was registered after Amritpal and his associates broke through police barricades in Jalandhar, said Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jalandhar range), Swapan Sharma. Speaking to reporters in Jalandhar Sunday, Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said: “It is a game of ‘chor’ (thief) and ‘sipahi’ (police). Sometimes, they manage to escape. But we will arrest Amritpal soon.”

Ludhiana: Police said they made preventive arrests of 25 people associated with Waris Punjab De. Ludhiana rural SSP Navneet Singh Bains said 21 people were picked up from Boparai Kalan village for attempting to instigate protests. One of these people is a president of a local gurdwara committee, police said. The other four people were arrested in Ludhiana city. Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said they were in direct contact with Amritpal. The accused people were sent to judicial custody.

Barnala: SSP Sandeep Malik said police have made nine preventive arrests and more will likely take place overnight. He said the arrested people would be produced in court Monday. Amritpal had to come to a local gurdwara in Bhadaur much before the police crackdown had started. His supporters were spread across Barnala villages from where they were arrested, said police sources. The Crime Investigation Agency branch of Moga has also rounded up some people, said these sources.

Bathinda: Twenty-one people were arrested in this district on Saturday as well as Sunday. Sixteen of them were booked on Saturday night for blocking a Talwandi Sabo road. Three arrests were made in Rampura Phul area. Police said Amritpal had planned to go to Chauke village of Rampura Phul on Saturday afternoon but was unable to because of the crackdown. All the arrested people have been produced in court.

Mansa: Police arrested 35 people over Saturday and Sunday and produced them in court, confirmed. SSP Dr Nanak Singh said they were Waris Punjab De supporters and had been protesting in the city.

Muktsar: Police confirmed 11 arrests over Saturday and Sunday. All were produced in court. These persons were arrested from a number of villages including Husnar, Bhaliana and Thandewala. Most villages were in Gidderbaha constituency, which Amritpal had visited on March 8 for a Hola Mohalla programme — where he challenged police and administrative authorities.

Faridkot: SSP Harjit Singh said four preventive arrests took place in the district and they were produced in court. “We were keeping an eye on miscreants,” he said.

Sangrur: “We made three preventive arrests of people who we suspected would create a law and order problem. They were produced in court,” said Surendra Lamba SSP Sangrur. He said the situation is otherwise peaceful.

Fazilka: SSP Avneet Kaur Sidhu said that one preventive arrest was made on Saturday and the person was produced in court. One more Amritpal supporter has alleged that he is facing house arrest, said sources.

Malerkotla: One preventive arrest was made on Saturday. The person was produced in court, said SSP Deepak Hilori.

Ferozepur: A number of Waris Punjab De supporters were detained, it is learnt. Authorities declined to reveal an exact number.