The official Twitter handle of BBC News Punjabi has been withheld in India amid a massive manhunt to nab fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

When accessed the Twitter account of BBC News Punjabi displays the message that the “account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”

As per reports, Twitter accounts of dozens of journalists from Punjab have been banned in India since a crackdown was launched to nab the radical Sikh preacher and his aides by the Punjab Police on March 18.

According to a media report, Twitter handles of Indian Express reporter Kamaldeep Singh Brar, Pro Punjab TV Bureau chief Gagandeep Singh, Independent journalist Sandeep Singh, Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh and SAD MP Simranjeet Singh Mann, have also been restricted amid the crackdown on Amritpal Singh.

A crackdown was launched to nab the self-styled Khalistani leader Amritpal after the Waris Punjab De chief and his supporters armed with swords and guns, stormed a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar city last month and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides Lovepreet Singh Toofan.

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On March 18, nearly three weeks after the incident, the Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt to nab the radical Sikh preacher and his associates.

Last week, Punjab Police nabbed Tejinder Singh aka Gorkha Baba, a notorious associate and former gunman of fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

A report quoted DSP Payal Harsimrat Singh of the Punjab Police as saying that Tejinder Singh, a resident of Punjab’s Mangewal village, was nabbed by the Khanna police.

Latest reports have claimed that Amritpal Singh may have already left the country and might be hiding in neighboring Nepal.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Punjab Police urged people believe fake news and rumors on the internet about the arrest of Amritpal Singh, who is still at large.

A top police official claimed that “people based in the US, UK and Canada” are to be blamed for spreading lies and rumors on social media about Amritpal Singh being tortured in custody. He said the rumors are aimed at instigating violence and spreading social disorder.

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A man was arrested in Khanna city of Punjab’s Ludhiana district for allegedly sheltering fugitive pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh’s notorious gunman Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorkha Baba, the Punjab Police said on Sunday.

In an official statement, Khanna Police said that accused, Balwant Singh, was arrested for allegedly providing shelter to Tejinder Singh—a close confidante of Amritpal Singh, adding that Balwant is currently being questioned, however not connection between him and the dreaded Khalistani leader has been found yet.

Last week, Punjab Police nabbed Tejinder Singh aka Gorkha Baba, a notorious associate and former gunman of fugitive Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

A report quoted DSP Payal Harsimrat Singh of the Punjab Police as saying that Tejinder Singh, a resident of Punjab’s Mangewal village, was nabbed by the Khanna police.

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DSP Harsimrat said Tejinder, who was a gunman for Amritpal Singh for a long period and often lived with the Waris Punjab De chief, is also involved in the Ajnala case. The officer said that Tejinder, also known as Gorkha Baba, was very active on social media and often posts pictures of himself brandishing different weapons due to which he’s wanted in a separate case registered against him at Malaud police station.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Punjab Police urged people believe fake news and rumors on the internet about the arrest of Amritpal Singh, who is still at large.

A top police official claimed that “people based in the US, UK and Canada” are to blamed for spreading lies and rumors on social media about Amritpal Singh being tortured in custody. He said the rumors are aimed at instigating violence and spreading social disorder.

Last month, Amritpal Singh and his supporters armed with swords and guns, stormed a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar city and clashed with police for the release of one of his aides Lovepreet Singh.

On March 18, nearly three weeks after the incident, the Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt to nab the radical Sikh preacher and his associates.

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Ten associates of fugitive pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh were sent to judicial custody till April 6 by a court in Punjab on Saturday even as the hunt to nab the radical Sikh preacher entered Day 9 today.

A court in Punjab’s Ajnala sentenced the Waris Punjab De chief 10 aides to judicial remand till April 6, while another accused, Sukhpreet Singh was remanded to a four-day police custody, in the case related to the storming of a police station by Khalistan supporters on February.

Amritpal’s aides are accused of storming the Ajnala police station on February 23 in a bid to break free an associate arrested for an alleged kidnapping.

A senior police official said that on February 23, thousands of supporters of notorious separatist leader Amritpal Singh, armed with guns and sharp-edged weapons, stormed the Ajnala Police Station and clashed with the cops, in a bid to secure the release of one of their associates, Lovepreet Toofan, who was arrested in an alleged abduction case.

He said the pro-Khalistan supporters smashed the barricades outside the station and stormed inside.

Police registered an FIR after the brazen incident and launched a manhunt to nab the outfit’s chief Amritpal Singh.

On Friday, Delhi Police and Punjab Police launched a search operation for Amritpal in Delhi and its border in view of the possibility of him entering the national capital.

Recently, videos of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief’s private militia christened ‘Anandpur Khalsa Force’ or AKF, emerged on social media platforms.

Visuals doing the rounds on social media show the members of notorious Khalistan sympathizers private army donning body armor emblazoned with the AKF logo, undergoing weapons training in a forested area, which is reportedly a make-shift shooting range constructed in Amritpal Singh’s native village of Jallupur Khera.

According to the Punjab Police, Amritpal’s former gunman, Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorkha Baba, revealed during questioning that the ‘Waris Punjab De’ supremo ran a highly organized network to train recruits in his protection force, with extensive weapons training and target practice.

Tejinder told the police that Amritpal Singh had formed a private militia called the Anandpur Khalsa Force or AKF who underwent extensive arms training at a makeshift shooting range in the Jallupur Khera village.