Self-proclaimed Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh is the chief of ‘Waris Punjab De’. He and his five aides are facing arrest after being charged with kidnapping, theft, rioting, causing injury and unlawful assembly, which has led to massive protests in Amritsar.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 23, 2023 16:54 IST
Self-proclaimed Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh (L) and his supporters clash with police in Amritsar (R) (Images edited by India Today)
By India Today News Desk: Massive protests broke out against the arrest of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s close aide Lovepreet Toofan on Thursday. Supporters of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief held swords and guns and broke through police barricades erected outside Ajnala Police Station in Amritsar.
Six cops were injured amid the protests and were admitted to the Ajnala hospital.
Heavy police force was deployed in the area and efforts were on to control the protesters.
Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI, ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh said the FIR in the case was registered with a political motive.
He further threatened of consequences if the FIR was not cancelled within an hour.
“The FIR was registered only with a political motive. If they don’t cancel the case in one hour, the administration will be responsible for whatever happens next. They think we can’t do anything, so this show of strength was necessary,” he said.
Amritpal Singh is the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, a group founded by activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.
Videos and images shared on social media showed a sea of protesters outside the Ajnala police station, while the cops tried to control the crowd.
Speaking further, Singh claimed one of his aides, arrested last week, is innocent and that he is being tortured.
He threatened to gherao the police station in case his name was not dropped from the FIR.
“We are pursuing the case of Khalistan in a very peaceful manner, when people can demand a Hindu nation why can’t we raise a demand for Khalistan,” Singh said.
“Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid the price of opposing the Khalistan movement. Nobody can stop us, be it PM Modi, Amit Shah or Bhagwant Maan,” Amritpal Singh said, adding, “the allegations levelled against me and my supporters are false.”
WHAT IS THE CASE
Amritpal Singh is a self-proclaimed Khalistani leader and chief of ‘Waris Punjab De’. He and his five aides are facing arrest after being charged with kidnapping, theft, rioting, causing injury and unlawful assembly.
The accused were charged on the basis of a complaint filed by Singh’s former aide, Varinder Singh, who was allegedly abducted and mercilessly beaten up by Singh and his heavily-armed men.
The police action against Amritpal Singh and his armed men is being viewed in the light of the statement issued by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that nobody will be allowed to create hatred among the communities.
Earlier, Singh had stirred a controversy after he said Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “fate will be similar to that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.”
The statement drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, as the party’s spokesperson RP Singh Khalsa asked why the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has been soft on Singh.
