The arrest of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh from Punjab’s Moga under the National Security Act (NSA) and his subsequent transfer to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail has been making headlines in India.
Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan propagator, has been on the run for the past month after a crackdown was launched against him and his outfit. His arrest is part of the ongoing efforts by the Punjab Police to clamp down on Khalistan sympathizers and maintain law and order in the state.
The arrest of Amritpal Singh is significant as he is the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, a social organization established by actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu. The outfit actively participated in the year-long farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws drafted by the Centre and raised Punjab-centric issues. Amritpal gained notoriety or fame last year when he was appointed as the leader of the organization.
The Punjab Police had invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit. Almost three weeks after Amritpal's supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of one of his aides while carrying a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, as a shield, the Punjab police took action. This incident acted as a trigger for a coordinated crackdown against Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan propagator.
Amritpal’s arrest has been welcomed by many in Punjab who view Khalistan sympathizers as a threat to the state’s security and stability. The multi-tier security arrangement made at the Central Jail in Dibrugarh where Amritpal will be lodged, highlights the seriousness with which the authorities are taking the threat posed by Khalistan sympathizers. The transfer of Amritpal Singh to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail also serves as a warning to other Khalistan sympathizers that the authorities are willing to take strong action against those who threaten the state’s security and stability.
In conclusion, the arrest of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh and his subsequent transfer to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail is a significant development in the ongoing efforts by the Punjab Police to clamp down on Khalistan sympathizers and maintain law and order in the state. The move sends a strong message to other Khalistan sympathizers that the authorities are willing to take strong action against those who threaten the state’s security and stability.
