Punjab police on Saturday arrested six associates of Amritpal Singh, the self-proclaimed radical Sikh preacher. Supporters of Waris Punjab De, the organization Singh heads, shared unconfirmed videos of police chasing his cavalcade in Punjab’s Moga district.
According to the sources, Singh, a Khalistan supporter, was on his way to Bathinda when the police tried to intercept him. The homes of some of his followers have been raided, sources said. the indian express. Internet services have been shut down in parts of Punjab. Amritpal himself is reportedly untraceable.
It is not clear in which case the current police action comes. A kidnapping case has been registered against Singh at Ajnala Police Station in Amritsar. Police have not disclosed whether any case was filed against him after his supporters stormed Ajnala police station on February 24. Brandishing swords and guns, they demanded the release of one of their members from police custody in an alleged kidnapping case.
Unrest against Amritpal Singh and his activities has been on the rise ever since he arrived in Punjab from Dubai last year and began making speeches about bringing young people back to “true Sikhi” and giving them shastra vidya (knowledge of weapons). . The 29-year-old dresses up as slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and even copies his gestures.
Who is Amritpal Singh?
Amritpal Singh began to gain traction on social media during the farmers’ uproar against the now repealed farm laws. He was a vocal supporter of protest leader Deep Sidhu, who made headlines for raising the Nishan Sahib flag at the Red Fort on Republic Day in 2021. Singh was then living in Dubai, where he had been working as a dispatcher at the family business. transportation business for the past more than 10 years. His family is from Jallupur Khera in Amritsar.
In February 2022, Sidhu died in a car accident. A few months after this, in September 2022, Amritpal Singh returned from Dubai to become the head of Waris Punjab De, the organization founded by the Sidhu around a year earlier. The dastarbandi (installation) ceremony of him as head of Waris Punjab De was held at Rode, Bhindranwale village amid chants of “Khalistan Zindabad”.
In his speech at Rode, Amritpal Singh said, “All of us (Punjabis) are still slaves. Those who think that we are azaad (free), should consult a doctor. We have to fight for freedom. Our waters are being plundered. Our Guru is being disrespected. Those who commit sacrilege will not be handed over to the police or sent to court. Ohda sodha laguga (we will punish them).”
Amritpal Singh’s popularity was built on Facebook Lives and other social media sessions, with his aggressive speeches against regional and national political parties, feminists, activists, Khalsa Aid and even some pro-Khalistan groups like Dal Khalsa.
After he took over as head of Waris Punjab De, Deep Sidhu’s family publicly disassociated themselves with him. mandeep singh sidhu, Deep Sidhu’s brother had told him the indian express, “My brother made this organization for a social cause, to raise Punjab issues and provide legal aid to those in need, not to propagate Khalistan. Amritpal is talking about creating riots in Punjab. He is deceiving people by using my brother’s and Khalistan’s name.”
What does Amritpal say he wants to do?
Deep Sidhu had said that Waris Punjab De was a social organization to “fight for Punjab rights against the Center and speak out whenever there was any attack on Punjab culture, language, social fabric and rights. Amritpal Singh, after taking office, said that he would go from village to village in Punjab to “bring the youth back to Sikhi”.
Calling on young people to protect their villages against the widespread threat of drugs in Punjab, he said that instead of fleeing abroad after passing IELTS, they should stay in Punjab and fight the “battle for their freedom”. He also urges young people to become baptized Sikhs.
On the comparisons to Bhindranwale, Singh said: “Bhindranwale is my inspiration. I will walk the path he showed me. I want to be like him because that’s what every Sikh wants, but I’m not copying him. I’m not even equal to the dust on his feet.”