INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: The situation in Punjab, where followers of preacher and Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh forcefully entered a
police station to free an associate, is under close surveillance by the Centre, stated officials on Friday
Brandishing rifles and swords, the demonstrators forcefully entered the Ajnala police station located in the outskirts of Amritsar city
They then compelled the officials to promise to withdraw the kidnapping case filed against Lovepreet Singh 'Toofan.'Amritsar Police
announces release of Amritpal Singh's aide Toofan Singh after massive protestsUnion Home Ministry officials said the Punjab government had
already been asked to keep a close watch on Singh's activity.Supporters of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh break through police
barricades brandishing guns in AmritsarThey said "the Centre was closely monitoring the situation in Punjab" as it is a sensitive border
state and any incident which is violation of law and has wider ramifications is a matter of concern.However, it is not immediately known
whether the central government has sought a report from the Punjab government on the incident and the prevailing situation in the state.On
Thursday, Amritpal Singh's supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into a police station
in Ajnala extracting an assurance from the police that kidnapping case accused Lovepreet Singh will be released.'Waris Punjab De' chief
Amritpal Singh and his supporters also brought a vehicle carrying a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib for holding "amrit sanchar" (a Sikh
ceremony) at the police station.Following the incident, Amritpal Singh's aide and kidnapping accused Lovepreet Singh 'Toofan' walked out of
jail in Ajnala on Friday.Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the demonstrators had used the holy Guru Granth Sahib as a shield and attacked police
personnel in a cowardly manner, leaving six of them injured.Despite giving an assurance of a peaceful demonstration, the protesters used
sharp-edged weapons.(With inputs from PTI)
