Guwahati: The seven close aides of the Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh including his uncle Harjeet Singh lodged in a high-security jail in Assam’s Dibrugarh has caught the attention of many. The seven have been booked under the National Security Act.
On the other hand, Punjab Police continued its crackdown on Waris Punjab De (WPD) elements wanted on criminal charges and made preventive arrests of over 100 persons attempting to disturb peace and law and order in the state.
However, the reason behind Amritpal Singh’s aides’ transit to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail is still unknown. Meanwhile, the police and both state’s political leaders are not willing to divulge any details as of now.
As per sources, Dibrugarh jail has heavily fortified and was used to hold top militants during the peak of ULFA militancy in Assam. Dibrugarh Central Jail is the most secure prison in the state and one of the oldest prisons in northeast India.
The sources further added that it is difficult for any prisoner to escape from jail due to the strict security arrangements.
However, the security of Dibrugarh jail has been increased, multi-tier security arrangements have been introduced around the jail, officials said. There are several layers of security in the cell where Amritpal’s aides were lodged, officials stated.
Official further added that it was part of Centre-state coordination.
There are no inputs on any more transfer of prisoners as of now, officially added.
The Assam Police have deployed specialised counter-insurgent Black Panther commandos at the jail.
The official said additional security arrangements have been made for strict vigil both inside and outside the jail.
Altogether seven members linked to Amritpal Singh’s ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD) have been brought here since March 19, including Harjeet Singh who was brought in the early hours of Tuesday.
Two WPD members identified as Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and Gurinder Pal Singh were brought here by a flight from Delhi and whisked to the Dibrugarh Central Jail amidst tight security later in the day, the official said. While, Harjeet Singh was flown to Assam a day after he surrendered to the Punjab Police on Monday.
A cavalcade of seven security vehicles took Harjeet from the Guwahati airport to the Dibrugarh Central Jail where he was lodged at 7.10 am, the official said.
Harjeet, who officials say helped his nephew gain control over the accounts of WPD, is among the five people slapped with the NSA, which allows the preventive detention of anyone who could threaten national security or public order.
The four WPD members are Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and ‘Pradhanmantri’ Bajeka.
