Sikh radical MP Amritpal’s aides to face trial in Punjab

The seven key aides of the jailed MP are lodged in the Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Sunday (March 16, 2025) said they would bring back to Punjab seven key aides of jailed MP Amritpal Singh of ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, currently at the Dibrugarh jail in Assam — under the National Security Act (NSA) — to face trial in different cases, including the attack on a police station in Ajnala.

Those who were being brought back to Punjab were: Basant Singh of Daulatpura Ucha in Moga, Bhagwant Singh alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke of Bajeke village in Moga, Gurmeet Singh Gill alias Gurmeet Bukkanwala of Bukkanwala village in Moga, Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi alias Daljeet Singh Kalsi of West Punjabi Bagh in New Delhi, Gurinderpal Singh Aujla alias Guri Aujla of Phagwara, Harjeet Singh alias Chacha of Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar and Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal alias Kulwant Singh of Rauke Kalan in Moga, said the DGP.

“A high-level, strong police party headed by Superintendent of Police Harinder Singh Gill is stationed at Dibrugarh Jail to execute the arrest of the seven detenus upon completion of their NSA detention period. The Punjab Police will subsequently produce them before the court in Dibrugarh to secure transit remand, ensuring their swift return to Punjab to face trial,” he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Border Range, Satinder Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Amritsar Rural, Maninder Singh, said “starting from Monday, seven of the 10 detenus will be brought back to Punjab to face trial in different cases registered across the State. We will make their [seven individuals] formal arrest at the Ajnala police station to begin investigations in the case,” they said.

Amritpal, a pro-Khalistan (sovereign state for Sikhs) propagator and his aides have been facing cases under the Indian Penal Code surrounding spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

In 2023, Amritpal was slapped with charges under the NSA, and arrested. Later, he was shifted to Dibrugarh jail in Assam. Amritpal’s rise to ‘fame-ill fame’ started in 2022 when was anointed head of the ‘Waris Punjab De’, a social organisation established by actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu. Amritpal’s rise was rich with symbolism from the very beginning when his anointment took place in Rode village in Moga district — the native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the militant leader who was killed in 1984. Amritpal kept speaking about secession and separatism and evoking calls for the ‘freedom’ of Punjab and the creation of Khalistan on several platforms. All his activities including the storming of the Ajnala police station triggered a sense of disquiet among the people in Punjab.

Published - March 16, 2025 10:06 pm IST