Amritpal Singh rose to prominence in latest months demanding the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, and together with his hardline interpretation of Sikhism at rallies in rural pockets of the northern state of some 30 million individuals. 

Last month Singh, 30, and his supporters armed with swords, knives and weapons raided a police station after one among his aides was arrested for alleged assault and tried kidnapping. 

The brazen daytime raid within the outskirts of Amritsar — dwelling to the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple — left a number of police injured and heaped stress on authorities to behave in opposition to Singh.

After the operation started on Saturday, Punjab police tweeted late within the day that 78 had been arrested within the “mega crackdown”. 

But Singh himself was not considered amongst them. 

The police late Sunday mentioned that it “made [more] preventive arrests” of individuals “attempting to disturb law and order in Punjab”.

“34 arrests have been made today. A total of 112 persons have been arrested so far… and there is complete peace and harmony in the state,” it added. 

On Sunday, there was a serious police presence throughout Punjab, particularly in rural pockets and round Singh’s village of Jallupur Khera, native media reported.

The police mentioned that its “manhunt” was ongoing and the general “situation is under control, citizens (are) requested to not believe in rumours”.

Local media stories mentioned that the Punjab authorities ordered the cell web shutdown to be in place till midday (0630 GMT) on Monday.

It was apprehensive that social media might be used to unfold rumours and misinformation which might spark road violence.

Indian authorities continuously shut down cell web providers, significantly within the restive northern area of Kashmir.

– UK diplomat summoned –

India summoned the “senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi” late Sunday after some Singh supporters allegedly entered and vandalised the Indian High Commission in London. 

The summon was “to convey strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements” in London, India’s overseas ministry mentioned in a press release.

New Delhi additionally sought “immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute” the suspects and demanded “an explanation for the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter” its official premises.

The British excessive commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, late Sunday condemned “the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises” as “totally unacceptable” on Twitter.

Punjab — with about 58 p.c Sikhs and 39 p.c Hindus — was rocked by a violent separatist motion for Khalistan within the Eighties and early Nineties when hundreds of individuals died.

India has usually complained to respective governments over the actions of Sikh hardliners who, it says, have been attempting to revive the insurgency with an enormous monetary push.  

bb/st