Fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh posts video while on run from cops, massive manhunt launched near Amritsar
New Delhi/IBNS: Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been on run amid a massive manhunt by the police for 12 days, released a video on Wednesday, confirming that he remains at large.
The video has been sourced through a foreign country, said reports, adding it appears to be two days old.
In the video, the pro-Khalistani leader is seen daring the Punjab Police and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
He also requested the Akal Takht supporters to call the congregation of Sikhs to discuss issues to save Punjab.
UK handles have reportedly distributed Amritpal's video.
The video emerged even as media reports claimed Amritpal Singh has returned to Punjab with plans to surrender.
The self-styled preacher supports a call for a separate homeland for Sikhs and is wanted for an armed raid on a police station last month.
He was believed to be travelling to Amritsar through the villages of Hoshiarpur when the Punjab Police was tipped off about his presence in the area.
As a result, the road traffic on the Hoshiarpur-Phagwara-Ludhiana route has been suspended in an ongoing cordon and search operation launched by the police late Tuesday night in and around village Marnaian.
The police also launched a massive door-to-door search operation in Hoshiarpur and neighbouring villages suspecting Singh and his associates could be hiding in the area.
The Punjab Police have been under immense pressure to arrest him and his supporters after they revived memories of the 1980s Punjab insurgency in which thousands died.