Amritpal Singh and ‘Waris Punjab De’: The Rise of Extremism in Punjab?
- Who is Amritpal Singh?
- He is referred to as ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’ by his supporters because of his appearance, which resembles Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a militant Sikh leader who was killed in 1984 during Operation Bluestar.
- Amritpal Singh reportedly came to India in 2022 from Dubai and took over as the head of Waris Punjab De.
- He is often seen surrounded by heavily armed followers and has a large following in Punjab.
- Amritpal Singh hails from Jallu-Pur Khaira village in the Amritsar district.
- In a video statement, Amritpal Singh issued a warning to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that if he continues to suppress the Khalistan movement, he will face consequences. He also compared Shah’s actions to those of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Sikh separatist movement of the 1980s.
- The Punjab police have reported that a significant search operation persisted on Sunday, the second day, in order to capture Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan activist.
- According to police, a large-scale search operation was carried out on Sunday, the second day, to apprehend Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan activist who is currently on the run. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal informed reporters near Nakodar in Jalandhar on Saturday night that Singh is considered a fugitive and that they are actively seeking him out with the aim of arresting him soon.
- Chahal reported that the authorities have detained six to seven gunmen who were associated with Amritpal Singh.
- Officials stated that on Saturday, the Punjab Government had initiated a major crackdown against Amritpal, leading to the arrest of 78 members belonging to a group that he headed
- However, Amritpal himself managed to evade the police and escape when his group’s convoy was intercepted in the Jalandhar district. As the search operation continued, security measures were increased in various locations, and internet and SMS services were suspended in the state until noon on Sunday.
- On Saturday, the police initiated a “massive state-wide cordon and search operation (CASO)” in the state to target members of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ group, which is led by Amritpal Singh, against whom several criminal cases have been registered. As per the latest reports, 78 individuals have been arrested, and several others have been detained for questioning.
- Daljeet Singh Kalsi, a close associate of Amritpal Singh and in charge of managing the Khalistani leader’s finances, has been apprehended from Gurgaon, Haryana.
- The police launched this operation a day prior to the scheduled commencement of Amritpal Singh’s ‘Khalsa Wahir’ – a religious procession that was to begin from the Muktsar district. During their statewide operation, the police seized several firearms including a .315-bore rifle, se12-bore rifles, one revolver, and 373 live cartridges of various Calibres.
- In many areas of Punjab, security measures have been enhanced, including the implementation of thorough vehicle inspections.
- A police spokesperson has stated that individuals associated with ‘Waris Punjab De’, also known as WPD, are linked to four criminal cases related to inciting disharmony among various groups, attempted murder, assaulting police personnel, and obstructing public servants from carrying out their lawful duties.
- On February 24, an FIR was filed against WPD members for attacking the Ajnala Police Station. Last month, Amritpal and his followers, some of whom were brandishing swords and firearms, forcibly entered the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of Amritsar city in an attempt to secure the release of one of Amritpal’s associates, resulting in a clash with the police.
- Due to the police operation aimed at arresting Amritpal Singh and his associates, internet services have been suspended throughout Punjab. Amritpal and the police engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse, with reports suggesting that he attempted to evade the authorities by switching vehicles. The police ultimately arrived at the house of Amritpal’s in-law in Kolaran village, claiming that he had escaped from a gurdwara.
- According to reliable police sources, a special aircraft has transported four of his highest-ranking aides, who were arrested, to Dibrugarh in upper Assam. It is expected that they will be held in the heavily guarded Dibrugarh Central Jail. Additionally, Amritpal Singh’s father has been taken into custody for interrogation.
- Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh leader and sympathizer of the Khalistan movement, has been active in Punjab for the past few weeks. Last month, his supporters clashed with the police at the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar, demanding the release of one of Amritpal’s associates.
- In response to the suspension of internet services, the Punjab Police issued a statement urging citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours, false information, or hate speech. “The Punjab Police is committed to maintaining law and order,” the police tweeted.
- According to sources, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on March 2 to discuss the strategy for apprehending Amritpal Singh. Before the police began their search for him on Saturday, the central government deployed additional forces to Punjab, as per the sources.
- Yesterday, a special task force consisting of personnel from seven districts of the state police followed the Khalistani leader’s convoy as he travelled to Jalandhar’s Shahkot tehsil. Despite their efforts, the extremist preacher, who declares himself a disciple of terrorist Bhindranwale, evaded the police by fleeing on a motorcycle.
- The government also released a statement announcing the suspension of all mobile internet services, SMS services (except for banking and mobile recharge), and dongle services provided on mobile networks in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab. This suspension would be in effect from 18 March (12:00 hours) to 19 March (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety.
- Amritpal Singh is a controversial Sikh leader who is the chief of Waris Punjab De, a group that has been accused of spreading disharmony among classes, attempting to murder, attack police personnel, and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants. Amritpal Singh has been dubbed as “Bhindranwale 2.0” by his supporters for his resemblance to the late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during Operation Blue Star in 1984. He hails from Jallu-Pur Khaira village in Amritsar district and returned to India from Dubai in 2022 to take over the leadership of Waris Punjab De. The group has a significant following and Amritpal Singh is often seen as heavily armed and surrounded by his followers. The AAP government in Punjab faced criticism for its handling of a recent incident involving Amritpal Singh and his supporters, in which six police officers were injured.
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