21 Amritpal supporters arrested in Ludhiana while attempting to organise a dharna

Amritpal Singh's followers attempted to hold a "dharna" on a road here to protest the police raid on him, authorities claimed on Sunday, and at least 21 of them were arrested. Amritpal Singh is a hardline Sikh preacher and a supporter of Khalistan.

They were captured close to this Boparai Klan town.

Police detained 78 members of an organisation led by Amritpal on Saturday as part of a significant crackdown conducted by the Punjab government against him.

As his cavalcade was stopped in the Jalandhar area, the elusive preacher himself managed to escape the police's clutches. Authorities increased security at various locations and halted internet and SMS services in the state as the operation got under way.

Amritpal has been listed as a wanted person and the search is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the suspension of SMS and mobile internet services in Punjab has been extended till Monday noon, according to Inspector General of Police (Ludhiana range) Kaustabh Sharma. Sharma said that police did not let them to hold the "dharna" and that they were detained.

The police said that flag marches were held in Ludhiana's Nawanshahr, Dakha, and Sidhwan and that "there is full tranquilly."