News Analysis India

Tag: Amritpal Singh

  • They Contested Lok Sabha Polls From Jail And Won But Can They Take Oath? |

    New Delhi: Two candidates from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib and Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency are currently in prison on charges related to terrorism and have been elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The result was declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 4 which raised the unusual situation. 

    As per ECI, Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh secured a victory from the Khadoor Sahib seat of Punjab while terror financing accused Sheikh Abdul Rashid also known as Engineer Rashid won from the Baramulla parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Amritpal Singh secured victory from a margin of 1,97,120 votes against Congress leader Kulbir Singh Zira. Amritpal is the chief of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit and is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail of Assam under the National Security Act (NSA). Rashid won from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat against  National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah by a huge margin. 

    On jailed candidates being elected in Lok Sabha seats, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh said, “…The number of legislators with criminal charges is on the rise… The makers of the Constitution would have never thought that such people would be elected to the Parliament. A constitutional amendment is needed to specify the charges, holding which, the candidates will be disqualified from contesting elections”

    “The irony is, that people in jails cannot vote, but can contest and win elections… A Parliamentary seat cannot lie vacant for more than 60 days, irrespective of whether they have taken an oath,” he said while speaking to ANI. 

    He further said that the Parliament should step in and not let such people get elected and in cases where they have to vacate their seats, they should not be allowed to recontest till the time they are out of custody. 

    “It is the need of the hour to bring a law addressing this issue… There is a provision somewhere which allows them to file their nominations by authorising someone, this is how they have contested elections,” he said.

    If Amritpal Singh and Engineer Rashid were to be convicted and jailed for a minimum of two years, they would immediately lose their seats, as per the Supreme Court judgment of 2013. 

  • Spy Cam, Phones Found In Separatist Leader Amritpal Singh’s Cell In Assam Jail Breach; Waris Panjab De Alleges Conspiracy |

    In a concerning development and security breach incident, several unauthorised activities were detected in the National Security Act (NSA) cell in which separatist leader and Waris Panjab De chief Amritpal Singh is lodged at the highly secure Dibrugarh Jail. The director general of Assam Police, GP Singh, took to his X social media handle to confirm the breach.

    The DGP said that a search operation led to the recovery of numerous unauthorised items, including a spy camera, a smartphone, a keypad phone, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones and speakers, a smartwatch, among others from the NSA cell. He stated further that all the recovered items were lawfully seized by the jail staff and the source of these items was currently under investigation.

    “Reference NSA detenues at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam – On receipt of information about unauthorised activities taking place in the NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in the public area of the NSA block. Inputs received confirmed unauthorised activities, based on which Jail staff searched the premises of NSA Cell early this morning, leading to the recovery of a smartphone with a SIM card, a keypad phone, a TV remote with a keyboard, a spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones & speakers and a smart watch, which were lawfully seized by Jail staff. The source of these unauthorised articles and mode of induction are being ascertained. Further lawful action is being taken and steps are being taken to prevent recurrence,” the Assam DGP said.

    Reference NSA detenues at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam – On receipt of Information about unauthorised activities taking place in NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in public area of NSA Block. Inputs received confirmed unauthorised activities, based on which Jail staff… pic.twitter.com/Iwf5kWOeXN
    — GP Singh (@gpsinghips) February 17, 2024

    On the other hand, Waris Panjab De lawyer Imaan Sngh Khara alleged conspiracy. He alleged that a spy cam was fitted inside the washroom of Amriptal Singh’s cell and the footage might be being sent to the state or central government. Khara alleged that the nude/semi-nude pic of Amritpal Singh may be used to blackmail him after the NSA ends next month. The lawyer also alleged that if a spycam could be fitted in the jail washroom, then Singh could be poisoned as well. Khara urged the Punjab government to raise the issue with the Assam government.

    ਦੂਜੀ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਕੇਂਦਰੀ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ ਡਿਬਰੂਗੜ੍ਹ(ਅਸਾਮ) ਵਿਖੇ ‘ਵਾਰਿਸ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ’ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਨੇ ਭੁੱਖ ਹੜਤਾਲ਼। (1/2)#warisPanjabDe #sikh #kaum #punjab #history pic.twitter.com/TQNBXh1fDQ
    — Adv Imaan singh khara (@advimaankhara) February 17, 2024

    In April of last year, Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh after a manhunt straddling states and spanning several months. He was later brought to Dibrugarh jail. Nine of Amritpal’s close aides, including Papalpreet Singh and Daljeet Singh Kalsi, are also in the same jail. Dibrugarh Central Jail is considered the most secure prison in the state and one of the oldest correctional facilities in the Northeast.

  • Amritpal Singh booked in eight cases, National Security Act invoked against him

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Besides invoking the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh the Punjab Police has registered eight cases on the radical leader and his associates as they were booked under several criminal cases related to attempt to murder, kidnapping, assault, extortion, illegal confinement, spreading disharmony among classes, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    On February 16: Punjab Police booked Amritpal Singh and others including Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan for kidnapping, assault, criminal intimidation and snatching on the complaint lodged by Varinder Singh of the Chamkaur Sahib in Anandpur Sahib as he alleged that they beat him up and threatened to kill him if he posted anything against them on social media.

    On February 24: a case was registered against Amritpal Singh and some of his associates for attempt to murder, and assault police officials as they attacked Ajnala Police Station on February 23 to free his close aid Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan on February 17, later Toofan was released by the court.

    On March 18: Amritpal Singh was booked for rash and negligent driving and disobedience to the order of a public servant at Mehtpur Police Station, as he broke through police barricades.

    On March  19: a case was registered on Amritpal Singh and others in two cases. A case was registered at Khilchian Police Station for rash and negligent driving, obstructing public servants from doing duty and criminal intimidation. Another case was registered on the same day by Amritsar (Rural) Police under the arms act after weapons were recovered from people associated with him.

    On March 20:  Amritpal Singh, his uncle Harjit Singh and their driver Harpreet Singh was booked by the Punjab Police on charges of trespass, wrongful confinement, whoever commits house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death and criminal intimidation at Mehatpur Police Station on the complaint of Udhowal village sarpanch Manpreet Singh who alleged that Harjit and Harpreet held him and his family hostage for 29 hours at gunpoint following the crackdown.

    On March 21: Amritpal Singh and four of his accomplices were booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, extortion by putting a person in fear of death, criminal intimidation and arms act at Shahkot police station, on the complaint of Ranjit Singh, the priest of the gurdwara at Nangal Ambian village. In his complaint, Singh stated that Amritpal pointed a gun at his son, Tejinder Singh and demanded clothes to change into. He threatened to kill him if he did not relent.

    On March 24: Amritpal Singh and his close associate Papalpreet Singh were booked on charges of extortion and illegal confinement at Bilga Police Station of Jalandhar (Rural). On the complaint of Gurmeet Kaur, wife of Sukhwinder Singh a priest at Singha Sabha Gurdwara in Shekhpur, who alleged that her family was allegedly taken into illegal confinement at gunpoint by Amritpal to help him and his accomplice cross Sutlej river.

    CHANDIGARH: Besides invoking the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh the Punjab Police has registered eight cases on the radical leader and his associates as they were booked under several criminal cases related to attempt to murder, kidnapping, assault, extortion, illegal confinement, spreading disharmony among classes, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    On February 16: Punjab Police booked Amritpal Singh and others including Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan for kidnapping, assault, criminal intimidation and snatching on the complaint lodged by Varinder Singh of the Chamkaur Sahib in Anandpur Sahib as he alleged that they beat him up and threatened to kill him if he posted anything against them on social media.

    On February 24: a case was registered against Amritpal Singh and some of his associates for attempt to murder, and assault police officials as they attacked Ajnala Police Station on February 23 to free his close aid Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan on February 17, later Toofan was released by the court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    On March 18: Amritpal Singh was booked for rash and negligent driving and disobedience to the order of a public servant at Mehtpur Police Station, as he broke through police barricades.

    On March  19: a case was registered on Amritpal Singh and others in two cases. A case was registered at Khilchian Police Station for rash and negligent driving, obstructing public servants from doing duty and criminal intimidation. Another case was registered on the same day by Amritsar (Rural) Police under the arms act after weapons were recovered from people associated with him.

    On March 20:  Amritpal Singh, his uncle Harjit Singh and their driver Harpreet Singh was booked by the Punjab Police on charges of trespass, wrongful confinement, whoever commits house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death and criminal intimidation at Mehatpur Police Station on the complaint of Udhowal village sarpanch Manpreet Singh who alleged that Harjit and Harpreet held him and his family hostage for 29 hours at gunpoint following the crackdown.

    On March 21: Amritpal Singh and four of his accomplices were booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, extortion by putting a person in fear of death, criminal intimidation and arms act at Shahkot police station, on the complaint of Ranjit Singh, the priest of the gurdwara at Nangal Ambian village. In his complaint, Singh stated that Amritpal pointed a gun at his son, Tejinder Singh and demanded clothes to change into. He threatened to kill him if he did not relent.

    On March 24: Amritpal Singh and his close associate Papalpreet Singh were booked on charges of extortion and illegal confinement at Bilga Police Station of Jalandhar (Rural). On the complaint of Gurmeet Kaur, wife of Sukhwinder Singh a priest at Singha Sabha Gurdwara in Shekhpur, who alleged that her family was allegedly taken into illegal confinement at gunpoint by Amritpal to help him and his accomplice cross Sutlej river.

  • Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh surrenders to Punjab police: Sources

    Amritpal Singh is being shifted to Assam's Dibrugarh, where eight of his aides are already being held under the National Security Act. Radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18, surrendered before the Punjab police on Sunday, according to reports. 

    Amritpal Singh is being shifted to Assam’s Dibrugarh, where eight of his aides are already being held under the National Security Act.

    ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh arrested by Punjab Police from Moga district of Punjab: Sources

    Amritpal Singh was on the run since March 18. pic.twitter.com/ks9IOJIWIc
    — ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2023

    Amritpal Singh surrendered three days after his wife Kirandeep Kaur was held for questioning at the Amritsar airport while she was trying to flee to London. Kirandeep Kaur, who was questioned by the customs department, was detained as a precautionary measure under the same legal process under which the family and acquaintances of the absconding accused are questioned.

    INTERVIEW | An armed struggle is always the last option, if it is imposed on us: Amritpal Singh

    In February, this year hundreds of supporters of Pro-Khalistan propagator and self-styled Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh had barged into the Ajnala Police Station near Amritsar and laid siege after clashing with the police personnel. 

    The 29-year-old’s supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and stormed the police station demanding that Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan, an accused in a case involving kidnapping, be released. A few policemen were injured during the clash, according to officials.

    A case was registered against Amritpal Singh and his 30 supporters for allegedly kidnapping and thrashing Barinder Singh, a resident of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.

    ALSO READ | NSA order against radical preacher Amritpal Singh issued on Saturday: Police affidavit in HC

  • Amritpal Singh’s wife stopped, questioned at Amritsar airport before boarding London flight

    By PTI

    AMRITSAR: Fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped at the Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport here by immigration officials while she was trying to board a flight to London, sources said on Thursday.

    She was learnt to have been questioned by the immigration authorities, they said.

    Singh married Kaur, a UK-based NRI, in February this year.

    Punjab Police officials refused to answer questions posed by media persons at the airport.

    Amritpal and his associates were booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    On February 10, Singh got married to Kaur in a simple ceremony at Jallupur Khera, his native village in Amritsar.

    The ‘Anand Karaj’ (marriage as per Sikh rituals) was held with a limited gathering of family members from both sides at a gurudwara in Baba Bakala in Amritsar.

    Singh had said that a marriage ceremony should be simple and urged people not to indulge in ‘show-off’ by splurging money on grand weddings.

    The preacher said his marriage was an example of reverse migration and announced that he and his wife would live in Punjab.

    One month on, no sight of Amritpal except in CCTV footage

    Radical preacher Amritpal Singh has managed to remain elusive even a month after the Punjab police launched a crackdown following the storming of the Ajnala police station by his supporters to secure the release of an arrested associate.

    escaped the police dragnet twice — first on March 18 in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and then again on March 28 in Hoshiarpur when he returned to Punjab along with his key associate Papalpreet Singh.

    Papalpreet, who is considered to be Amritpal’s mentor and who has allegedly been in contact with Pakistan’s ISI, has been arrested.

    Several cases have been lodged against the Khalistan sympathizer and his associates for allegedly spreading disharmony, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and obstructing the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    Despite being sighted in several CCTV footage and photos with changed appearances at many places, including Patiala, Kurukshetra and Delhi, the radical preacher continued to hoodwink the police.

    While on the run, two videos and one audio clip of Amritpal surfaced on social media.

    In one of his two videos, which surfaced on March 30, Amritpal asserted that he was not a fugitive and would soon appear.

    The pro-Khalistan preacher had claimed that he was not like those who would flee the country.

    There were rumours that Amritpal might surrender on Baisakhi at Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda, but that did not happen.

    Tight security arrangements during the Baisakhi festival at Talwandi Sabo, however, earned the wrath of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh who accused the Punjab government of trying to create panic.

    Police claimed that security was deployed for the convenience and safety of devotees.

    The Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, had even asked the fugitive preacher to surrender before the police and cooperate with the investigation.

    The appeal, however, fell on deaf ears.

    Police continued to search his probable hideouts, the latest being in Haryana’s Sirsa a few days ago.

    Earlier, searches were also conducted in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

    Recently, Punjab Police pasted posters of Amritpal at railway stations in Batala and Amritsar, announcing that an appropriate reward will be given to anyone who provides credible information about his whereabouts.

    On April 15, police managed to nab Amritpal’s close aide Joga Singh from Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib.

    According to them, Joga Singh was in direct contact with Amritpal and had even arranged a shelter and vehicles for him in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit.

    It was Joga Singh who brought Amritpal and his aide Papalpreet back to Punjab on March 28.

    Nine of Amritpal’s aides — Daljit Singh Kalsi, Papalpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh and Gurinderpal Singh Aujla — have been lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam and charged under the stringent National Security Act.

    Ahead of the Baisakhi festival, Punjab police chief Gaurav Yadav had said that those wanted by the law should submit to the process of law.

    Amid reports that Amritpal might have taken shelter at a religious place, the top police officer had said that religious places should not be misused.

    The 29-year-old Amritpal Singh was last year anointed the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, the organisation founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu in February last year.

    AMRITSAR: Fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped at the Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport here by immigration officials while she was trying to board a flight to London, sources said on Thursday.

    She was learnt to have been questioned by the immigration authorities, they said.

    Singh married Kaur, a UK-based NRI, in February this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Punjab Police officials refused to answer questions posed by media persons at the airport.

    Amritpal and his associates were booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    On February 10, Singh got married to Kaur in a simple ceremony at Jallupur Khera, his native village in Amritsar.

    The ‘Anand Karaj’ (marriage as per Sikh rituals) was held with a limited gathering of family members from both sides at a gurudwara in Baba Bakala in Amritsar.

    Singh had said that a marriage ceremony should be simple and urged people not to indulge in ‘show-off’ by splurging money on grand weddings.

    The preacher said his marriage was an example of reverse migration and announced that he and his wife would live in Punjab.

    One month on, no sight of Amritpal except in CCTV footage

    Radical preacher Amritpal Singh has managed to remain elusive even a month after the Punjab police launched a crackdown following the storming of the Ajnala police station by his supporters to secure the release of an arrested associate.

    escaped the police dragnet twice — first on March 18 in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and then again on March 28 in Hoshiarpur when he returned to Punjab along with his key associate Papalpreet Singh.

    Papalpreet, who is considered to be Amritpal’s mentor and who has allegedly been in contact with Pakistan’s ISI, has been arrested.

    Several cases have been lodged against the Khalistan sympathizer and his associates for allegedly spreading disharmony, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and obstructing the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    Despite being sighted in several CCTV footage and photos with changed appearances at many places, including Patiala, Kurukshetra and Delhi, the radical preacher continued to hoodwink the police.

    While on the run, two videos and one audio clip of Amritpal surfaced on social media.

    In one of his two videos, which surfaced on March 30, Amritpal asserted that he was not a fugitive and would soon appear.

    The pro-Khalistan preacher had claimed that he was not like those who would flee the country.

    There were rumours that Amritpal might surrender on Baisakhi at Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda, but that did not happen.

    Tight security arrangements during the Baisakhi festival at Talwandi Sabo, however, earned the wrath of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh who accused the Punjab government of trying to create panic.

    Police claimed that security was deployed for the convenience and safety of devotees.

    The Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, had even asked the fugitive preacher to surrender before the police and cooperate with the investigation.

    The appeal, however, fell on deaf ears.

    Police continued to search his probable hideouts, the latest being in Haryana’s Sirsa a few days ago.

    Earlier, searches were also conducted in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

    Recently, Punjab Police pasted posters of Amritpal at railway stations in Batala and Amritsar, announcing that an appropriate reward will be given to anyone who provides credible information about his whereabouts.

    On April 15, police managed to nab Amritpal’s close aide Joga Singh from Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib.

    According to them, Joga Singh was in direct contact with Amritpal and had even arranged a shelter and vehicles for him in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit.

    It was Joga Singh who brought Amritpal and his aide Papalpreet back to Punjab on March 28.

    Nine of Amritpal’s aides — Daljit Singh Kalsi, Papalpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh and Gurinderpal Singh Aujla — have been lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam and charged under the stringent National Security Act.

    Ahead of the Baisakhi festival, Punjab police chief Gaurav Yadav had said that those wanted by the law should submit to the process of law.

    Amid reports that Amritpal might have taken shelter at a religious place, the top police officer had said that religious places should not be misused.

    The 29-year-old Amritpal Singh was last year anointed the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, the organisation founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu in February last year.

  • Amritpal’s aide Daljit Kalsi detained under NSA after due process of law: Punjab govt tells HC

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government told the high court here on Tuesday that Amritpal Singh aide Daljit Singh Kalsi, who has been detained under the NSA, was helping the fugitive profess radical ideology and wage war against the State for a separate Khalistan.

    The government also told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Sarabjit alias Daljit Singh Kalsi was detained under the National Security Act and the allegation he has been kept illegally is wrong and incorrect.

    He was after following the due process of law, the government added.

    The court was hearing petitions, including of Kalsi’s wife, who has alleged her husband has been illegally confined by Punjab Police and sent to Dibrugarh central jail in Assam without a valid reason and proper procedure.

    Relatives of other NSA detainees in the Amritpal Singh case — Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh Fauji, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhanmantri Bajeke) and Basant Singh — have also petitioned the court to quash the detention orders.

    These people were detained during a police crackdown on pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides that began on March 18 in Jalandhar.

    ALSO READ | Radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s aide Papalpreet lodged in Dibrugarh jail

    Counsel Simranjit Singh, representing Kalsi’s wife, said the Punjab government filed its reply to her petition on Tuesday while the Union government has sought time to file its response.

    The next date for hearing has been fixed for April 24, he said.

    The Punjab government filed its reply as an affidavit of Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh.

    According to the affidavit, the petition filed by Kalsi’s wife was not maintainable because she cannot seek relief under a criminal writ petition or habeas corpus (the requirement that an arrested person be brought before a judge) as the same has limited scope.

    Daljit Singh Kalsi has been detained under the NSA after following the due process of law and is presently lodged in central jail in Assam, the state government said in its reply.

    “Kalsi was actively supporting Amritpal in his activities and was himself indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the state as well as to the maintenance of public law and order. Kalsi has been supporting Amritpal in professing radical ideology and raised the demand of secession of Punjab from India by violent means. He also had been supporting Amritpal actively abetting/instigating/provoking/motivating/ conspiring to wage war against the state for a separate nation by name of Khalistan,” said the affidavit.

    ALSO READ:

    Akal Takht rules out Amritpal meet on Baisakhi day

    Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video

    Amritpal Singh aka ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’: Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser

    INTERVIEW | An armed struggle is always the last option, if it is imposed on us: Amritpal

    The court was told that Kalsi had made a representation against the detention order on March 24 and it was rejected by the competent authority in the state government, which found it without merit.

    The case has been referred to the advisory board on April 1 as required under Section 10 of the NSA and is now under consideration of the advisory board, said the affidavit.

    The affidavit also stated that the information regarding detention of Kalsi, including the date and place of detention, was duly informed to his wife on her mobile number by the Ajnala police.

    The allegation that Kalsi has been kept illegally and without following the procedure of law is wrong and incorrect, it added.

    Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who is yet to be nabbed, escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government told the high court here on Tuesday that Amritpal Singh aide Daljit Singh Kalsi, who has been detained under the NSA, was helping the fugitive profess radical ideology and wage war against the State for a separate Khalistan.

    The government also told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Sarabjit alias Daljit Singh Kalsi was detained under the National Security Act and the allegation he has been kept illegally is wrong and incorrect.

    He was after following the due process of law, the government added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The court was hearing petitions, including of Kalsi’s wife, who has alleged her husband has been illegally confined by Punjab Police and sent to Dibrugarh central jail in Assam without a valid reason and proper procedure.

    Relatives of other NSA detainees in the Amritpal Singh case — Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh Fauji, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhanmantri Bajeke) and Basant Singh — have also petitioned the court to quash the detention orders.

    These people were detained during a police crackdown on pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides that began on March 18 in Jalandhar.

    ALSO READ | Radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s aide Papalpreet lodged in Dibrugarh jail

    Counsel Simranjit Singh, representing Kalsi’s wife, said the Punjab government filed its reply to her petition on Tuesday while the Union government has sought time to file its response.

    The next date for hearing has been fixed for April 24, he said.

    The Punjab government filed its reply as an affidavit of Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh.

    According to the affidavit, the petition filed by Kalsi’s wife was not maintainable because she cannot seek relief under a criminal writ petition or habeas corpus (the requirement that an arrested person be brought before a judge) as the same has limited scope.

    Daljit Singh Kalsi has been detained under the NSA after following the due process of law and is presently lodged in central jail in Assam, the state government said in its reply.

    “Kalsi was actively supporting Amritpal in his activities and was himself indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the state as well as to the maintenance of public law and order. Kalsi has been supporting Amritpal in professing radical ideology and raised the demand of secession of Punjab from India by violent means. He also had been supporting Amritpal actively abetting/instigating/provoking/motivating/ conspiring to wage war against the state for a separate nation by name of Khalistan,” said the affidavit.

    ALSO READ:

    Akal Takht rules out Amritpal meet on Baisakhi day

    Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video

    Amritpal Singh aka ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’: Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser

    INTERVIEW | An armed struggle is always the last option, if it is imposed on us: Amritpal

    The court was told that Kalsi had made a representation against the detention order on March 24 and it was rejected by the competent authority in the state government, which found it without merit.

    The case has been referred to the advisory board on April 1 as required under Section 10 of the NSA and is now under consideration of the advisory board, said the affidavit.

    The affidavit also stated that the information regarding detention of Kalsi, including the date and place of detention, was duly informed to his wife on her mobile number by the Ajnala police.

    The allegation that Kalsi has been kept illegally and without following the procedure of law is wrong and incorrect, it added.

    Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who is yet to be nabbed, escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

  • Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A day after daring the Punjab police to arrest him, radical preacher Amritpal Singh surfaced in a fresh video on Thursday, asserting he was not a fugitive and would soon appear before the world.

    The purported video surfaced hours after his audio clip came out on social media in which he debunked speculation he was negotiating his surrender.

    “Those who feel that I have turned fugitive and I have left my associates, they should not keep this illusion in their mind. I do not fear death,” he said in the video in Punjabi.

    “And soon will appear before the world and will also be amongst the ‘Sangat’,” he said.

    Police have stepped up security in and around Amritsar and Bathinda amid reports that Amritpal Singh may surrender after entering any of the two Sikh shrines – Golden Temple in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Bathinda.

    The pro-Khalistan preacher said he was not like those who would flee the country.

    “One has to face a lot during the days of rebellion. These days of rebellion are difficult to pass,” he said.

    It was his second video since being on the run amid a police crackdown on his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’.

    The police action began on March 18, weeks after Amritpal Singh’s supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala, near Amritsar, to secure the release of one of his associates.

    The preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and changing appearances multiple times.

    In the first video, which appeared on social media on Wednesday, he asked the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, to summon a congregation to discuss issues concerning the community.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    CHANDIGARH: A day after daring the Punjab police to arrest him, radical preacher Amritpal Singh surfaced in a fresh video on Thursday, asserting he was not a fugitive and would soon appear before the world.

    The purported video surfaced hours after his audio clip came out on social media in which he debunked speculation he was negotiating his surrender.

    “Those who feel that I have turned fugitive and I have left my associates, they should not keep this illusion in their mind. I do not fear death,” he said in the video in Punjabi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “And soon will appear before the world and will also be amongst the ‘Sangat’,” he said.

    Police have stepped up security in and around Amritsar and Bathinda amid reports that Amritpal Singh may surrender after entering any of the two Sikh shrines – Golden Temple in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Bathinda.

    The pro-Khalistan preacher said he was not like those who would flee the country.

    “One has to face a lot during the days of rebellion. These days of rebellion are difficult to pass,” he said.

    It was his second video since being on the run amid a police crackdown on his outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’.

    The police action began on March 18, weeks after Amritpal Singh’s supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala, near Amritsar, to secure the release of one of his associates.

    The preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district by switching vehicles and changing appearances multiple times.

    In the first video, which appeared on social media on Wednesday, he asked the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, to summon a congregation to discuss issues concerning the community.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

  • Amritpal Singh’s aide Varinder booked under Arms Act in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar

    By PTI

    KISHTWAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday booked Varinder Singh, suspected to be the bodyguard of the fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh, under the Arms Act in connection with a gun licence issued to him in Kishtwar district, officials said.

    The district administration also cancelled Varinder Singh’s licence, and said it will probe how the former army jawan, who was sacked in 2015, procured the licence in 2014 and then kept getting it renewed in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Police said Varinder Singh, also known as Fauji, was part of a private security set up for radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who is on the run.

    A video recently showed Varinder Singh, the bodyguard of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, opening fire in the air.

    After the clip appeared, the Punjab Police arrested him last week, slapped the National Security Act on him and lodged him in a jail in faraway Assam.

    ALSO READ | In new video, Amritpal says he’s fine, calls for Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi

    Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khalil Poswal told PTI on Thursday that there was also a need to investigate how Varinder Singh got the licence.

    “Accordingly, we have lodged an FIR under number 52/2023 under section 3/25/30 Arms Act and provisions of IPC registered in police station Kishtwar,” he said.

    He further said that police has conveyed the details of the case to Punjab Police and sought documents from them.

    “We will seek the presence of that person. He (Varinder Singh) will be brought here to conduct an investigation and to find out how he reached here and how he got his license from here.”

    Giving further details, he said that the gun license was issued to him in 2014 from Kishtwar Deputy Magistrate (DM) office.

    He said the CID wing of the Punjab Police recently wrote to the DM Kishtwar that there was misuse of his gun license.

    “The matter was activated and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar cancelled gun license,” the SSP said.

    Poswal said that police will have to ascertain under which circumstances the gun license was issued to him in the first place as his army unit was never posted here in Kishtwar.

    “He was a jawan of the 96 regiments and was terminated in 2015. After issuance, his gun licence was getting renewed. The licence has been validated till 2025 from Ramban, Reasi, Baramulla and Kathua. There is a need to investigate the case,” the SSP said.

    ALSO READ | Close to catching Amritpal, says Punjab govt as fugitive preacher spotted without turban

    As for verification by the Police before granting a gun license to him, he said that there was a letter from then commandant to DM.

    “On that certificate, the gun licence was issued. There was certification or verification by Police in Kishtwar in this case,” the SSP said.

    Amritpal Singh, meanwhile, remains elusive since the police crackdown against him and members of his pro-Khalistan ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit began on March 18, about three weeks after he and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man.

    The preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempts to murder, attacks on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

    KISHTWAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday booked Varinder Singh, suspected to be the bodyguard of the fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh, under the Arms Act in connection with a gun licence issued to him in Kishtwar district, officials said.

    The district administration also cancelled Varinder Singh’s licence, and said it will probe how the former army jawan, who was sacked in 2015, procured the licence in 2014 and then kept getting it renewed in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Police said Varinder Singh, also known as Fauji, was part of a private security set up for radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who is on the run.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A video recently showed Varinder Singh, the bodyguard of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, opening fire in the air.

    After the clip appeared, the Punjab Police arrested him last week, slapped the National Security Act on him and lodged him in a jail in faraway Assam.

    ALSO READ | In new video, Amritpal says he’s fine, calls for Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi

    Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khalil Poswal told PTI on Thursday that there was also a need to investigate how Varinder Singh got the licence.

    “Accordingly, we have lodged an FIR under number 52/2023 under section 3/25/30 Arms Act and provisions of IPC registered in police station Kishtwar,” he said.

    He further said that police has conveyed the details of the case to Punjab Police and sought documents from them.

    “We will seek the presence of that person. He (Varinder Singh) will be brought here to conduct an investigation and to find out how he reached here and how he got his license from here.”

    Giving further details, he said that the gun license was issued to him in 2014 from Kishtwar Deputy Magistrate (DM) office.

    He said the CID wing of the Punjab Police recently wrote to the DM Kishtwar that there was misuse of his gun license.

    “The matter was activated and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar cancelled gun license,” the SSP said.

    Poswal said that police will have to ascertain under which circumstances the gun license was issued to him in the first place as his army unit was never posted here in Kishtwar.

    “He was a jawan of the 96 regiments and was terminated in 2015. After issuance, his gun licence was getting renewed. The licence has been validated till 2025 from Ramban, Reasi, Baramulla and Kathua. There is a need to investigate the case,” the SSP said.

    ALSO READ | Close to catching Amritpal, says Punjab govt as fugitive preacher spotted without turban

    As for verification by the Police before granting a gun license to him, he said that there was a letter from then commandant to DM.

    “On that certificate, the gun licence was issued. There was certification or verification by Police in Kishtwar in this case,” the SSP said.

    Amritpal Singh, meanwhile, remains elusive since the police crackdown against him and members of his pro-Khalistan ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit began on March 18, about three weeks after he and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man.

    The preacher escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

    He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempts to murder, attacks on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

  • India asks Nepal not to allow Amritpal Singh to escape; Nepal puts him on surveillance list

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: The Indian government has requested the Nepal government not to allow pro-Khalistan activist and chief of  ‘Waris Punjab De’ Amritpal Singh believed to be hiding in Nepal to flee to a third country. Nepal has been told to arrest him if he attempts to escape using Indian or any other fake passport. Thus, Nepal has put the radical Sikh preacher on their surveillance list. 

    The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has requested the Nepalese government agencies to arrest Singh if he tries to flee from Nepal. The letter and Singh’s personal details have been circulated to all the concerned agencies from hotels to airlines, as Singh is said to be possessing multiple passports with him, said sources.

    It is learnt that after Nepal received request from India embassy the Immigration department of the neighboring country  has put Amritpal on its surveillance. As it was suspected that he had entered Nepal and was hiding somewhere around.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab Police on Monday arrested yet another gunman of Amritpal Singh, Varinder Singh Johal alias ‘Fauji’ in relation to the Ajnala violence case.

    Johal who is a dismissed army jawan was arrested by the Tarn Taran Police as he belongs to Raju Singh Wala village in the district. The police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against him and he was then sent to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.

    Confirming his arrest, a senior police official said that the accused had been working as a gunman of Amritpal Singh for some time and is a dismissed Army jawan. He was on the run after the radical leader had vanished and was caught on Monday by the Tarn Taran Police and handed over to Amritsar (Rural) Police.

    Earlier Johal’s arm license issued from Jammu and Kashmir was cancelled after the Punjab government took up the matter with their J&K counterparts in view of the Ajnala violence. He was among the 10 gunmen who accompanied Amritpal all the time.

    CHANDIGARH: The Indian government has requested the Nepal government not to allow pro-Khalistan activist and chief of  ‘Waris Punjab De’ Amritpal Singh believed to be hiding in Nepal to flee to a third country. Nepal has been told to arrest him if he attempts to escape using Indian or any other fake passport. Thus, Nepal has put the radical Sikh preacher on their surveillance list. 

    The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has requested the Nepalese government agencies to arrest Singh if he tries to flee from Nepal. The letter and Singh’s personal details have been circulated to all the concerned agencies from hotels to airlines, as Singh is said to be possessing multiple passports with him, said sources.

    It is learnt that after Nepal received request from India embassy the Immigration department of the neighboring country  has put Amritpal on its surveillance. As it was suspected that he had entered Nepal and was hiding somewhere around.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Meanwhile, the Punjab Police on Monday arrested yet another gunman of Amritpal Singh, Varinder Singh Johal alias ‘Fauji’ in relation to the Ajnala violence case.

    Johal who is a dismissed army jawan was arrested by the Tarn Taran Police as he belongs to Raju Singh Wala village in the district. The police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against him and he was then sent to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.

    Confirming his arrest, a senior police official said that the accused had been working as a gunman of Amritpal Singh for some time and is a dismissed Army jawan. He was on the run after the radical leader had vanished and was caught on Monday by the Tarn Taran Police and handed over to Amritsar (Rural) Police.

    Earlier Johal’s arm license issued from Jammu and Kashmir was cancelled after the Punjab government took up the matter with their J&K counterparts in view of the Ajnala violence. He was among the 10 gunmen who accompanied Amritpal all the time.

  • Vigil intensified in UP border districts after intel alert that Amritpal may flee to Nepal

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Stepping up surveillance in UP districts on the border with Nepal, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has issued an alert and put up posters bearing pictures of fugitive Amritpal Singh and his aides in Bahraich to avert the possibility of the radical preacher fleeing via Uttar Pradesh and sneaking into the neighbouring country.

    According to SSB sources, each check-post of the border was under intensified vigil which was increased after intelligence inputs that Amritpal could enter Nepal. “We have issued an alert on the border. Posters with pictures have also been put up in Rupaidiha in Bahraich. We are closely monitoring the movement of people along the border,” said a senior SSB official.

    ALSO READ | Hunt for Amritpal: Preacher was ready with ‘Khalistan flag’, private militia, say cops

    High-resolution pictures of Amritpal and his accomplices were uploaded on the mobile phones of SSB personnel and in the facial recognition software used on the border, he added.

    He said that besides Amritpal, posters of two of his associates were also put up along the border. “If the people of the town see anyone like him, they must inform the police and SSB about it,” said the official.

    ALSO READ | Amritpal asked Sikhs to be prepared for ‘ultimate sacrifice’, incited through speeches: Officials

    Even though Punjab is far from Rupaidiha, the presence of a considerable Sikh population in Bahraich and Terai district of Lakhimpur Kheri could provide Amritpal ample opportunity to hide and enter Nepal crossing the border, officials said.

    The alert has been issued following the orders of the Union home ministry and the Punjab government.

    The sources claimed that 22 highly-sensitive cameras capable of graphical face recognition were installed at different places along the border. They said that once the photo of a person was uploaded in the system, even if he tried to dodge securitymen by changing his get-up, the camera would recognise him.

    LUCKNOW: Stepping up surveillance in UP districts on the border with Nepal, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has issued an alert and put up posters bearing pictures of fugitive Amritpal Singh and his aides in Bahraich to avert the possibility of the radical preacher fleeing via Uttar Pradesh and sneaking into the neighbouring country.

    According to SSB sources, each check-post of the border was under intensified vigil which was increased after intelligence inputs that Amritpal could enter Nepal. “We have issued an alert on the border. Posters with pictures have also been put up in Rupaidiha in Bahraich. We are closely monitoring the movement of people along the border,” said a senior SSB official.

    ALSO READ | Hunt for Amritpal: Preacher was ready with ‘Khalistan flag’, private militia, say copsgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    High-resolution pictures of Amritpal and his accomplices were uploaded on the mobile phones of SSB personnel and in the facial recognition software used on the border, he added.

    He said that besides Amritpal, posters of two of his associates were also put up along the border. “If the people of the town see anyone like him, they must inform the police and SSB about it,” said the official.

    ALSO READ | Amritpal asked Sikhs to be prepared for ‘ultimate sacrifice’, incited through speeches: Officials

    Even though Punjab is far from Rupaidiha, the presence of a considerable Sikh population in Bahraich and Terai district of Lakhimpur Kheri could provide Amritpal ample opportunity to hide and enter Nepal crossing the border, officials said.

    The alert has been issued following the orders of the Union home ministry and the Punjab government.

    The sources claimed that 22 highly-sensitive cameras capable of graphical face recognition were installed at different places along the border. They said that once the photo of a person was uploaded in the system, even if he tried to dodge securitymen by changing his get-up, the camera would recognise him.