Indian police were searching for a Sikh preacher for a third day on Monday after launching a statewide crackdown on his group, which is blamed for stirring anti-government sentiment in northern Punjab state.
Amritpal Singh, 30, is the leader of Waris Punjab De, translated loosely as Sons of Punjab, an allegedly radical organisation founded by the actor Deep Sidhu "to protect the rights of Punjab and raise social issues" in the north of the state. Sidhu died in February last year.
Authorities in Punjab have struggled for decades with a Sikh separatist movement, involving a minority religious community seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs called Khalistan.
Mr Singh was travelling in an SUV to launch a statewide campaign in Jalandhar late on Saturday when he was chased by police but managed to escape after abandoning his car.
Police, however, arrested at least 112 of his supporters, while Mr Singh’s uncle and his driver surrendered on Monday.
The force has also seized eight rifles, one revolver and a hoard of ammunition from abandoned vehicles, registering a case against Mr Singh under the Arms Act, a senior police officer said.
About 20 bulletproof jackets were also reportedly recovered from Mr Singh's house.
Since taking charge of the organisation in September, Mr Singh has been accused of spreading disharmony, attempted murder, attacks on police and obstructing the work of public servants.
Security has been tightened throughout the state, with forces conducting checks on vehicles on the roads. Internet and SMS services have been suspended and the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have been placed on high alert.
Mr Singh’s ancestral village Jallu Kheda in Amritsar district has allegedly been turned into a fortress and authorities have prohibited gatherings of more than four people in various districts to avoid protests and violence.
He is also accused of using a drug rehabilitation centre and a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) for stockpiling weapons and preparing youths to carry out suicide attacks.
Security agencies have compiled a dossier that claims he has ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and believe the spy agency has told him to encourage Sikh youth and use violence to promote the Khalistan secessionist movement.
The manhunt triggered protests outside the Indian High Commission in London on Sunday, where Khalistan supporters pulled down the Indian national flag.
New Delhi on Sunday summoned British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott and demanded an explanation after videos on social media surfaced of the Khalistan sympathisers protesting outside the Indian High Commission in the British capital.
“The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India’s strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises."
Khalistan movement's violent legacy
Mr Singh worked for his uncle's haulage business before he returned to India last year and took charge of the organisation that espouses Khalistan ideology.
He has became a public figure in the past six months, transitioning from a clean-shaven transport administrator to a bearded preacher who wears traditional robes, a turban and dresses in the style of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a militant Sikh commander in the 1980s.
Mr Bhindranwale was killed after he, along with hundreds of heavily armed Sikh militants, were holed up inside the Golden Temple — the most sacred site in Sikhism — after the Indian Army raided the premises in 1984 as part of Operation Blue Star.
Fierce fighting followed days of artillery shelling by the Indian Army, leading to severe damage to the shrine.
Mr Singh has claimed to be a follower of Mr Bhindranwale, who still remains an influential figure for many Sikh separatists.
He has made controversial speeches in the past few months including one in which he said Home Minister Amit Shah would face a similar fate to former prime minister Indira Gandhi if atrocities against Sikhs are not controlled.
Ms Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star.
Mr Singh's supporters reportedly vandalised two Sikh temples in December. In February, separatists brandishing swords and guns broke through barricades and barged into a police station where they clashed with officers in a bid to force the release of one of his aides.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Publisher: LucasArts
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
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