Amritpal Singh

 

Amrit Pal Singh Sandhu is head of the Waris Punjab De a non government organisation which is mainly involved in inhabilitation of drug addicts after helping them to quit the addiction. In recent years Punjab has been facing the severe and acute problem of drug addiction widespread throughout the state.

He used to work as an operation manager for truck drivers with Sandhu Transport, a family business , in Dubai for decades and returned to India in September 2022. He took over the charge of Waris Punjab De after Deep Sidhu and slowly became a preacher. And in recent times he had came out as pro khalistani militia man. It is said that he has been radicalised by Inter Services Intelligence(ISI) after he displayed his support for Deep Sidhu and farmers' protest in recent times in India. During this time he also displayed his pro khalistani profile.

Indian intelligence sources claim that Amritpal Singh has been supported by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and that he has stockpiled arms while raising a private militia called Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). In March 2023, the state government, acting in coordination with the central government, launched an intense crackdown on Sandhu and his associates; as of 31 March 2023, the operation is in progress and Sandhu remains a fugitive.

In November 2022, Sudhir Suri, a Shiv Sena politician was murdered by Sandeep Singh Sunny, who allegedly had a Waris Punjab De sticker on his vehicle. Punjab Police placed Amritpal Singh Sandhu under a preemptive house arrest briefly, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of retaliatory violence against him, although he had no prior connection with Sudhir Suri nor with the murder. After being released from house arrest, Amritpal Singh Sandhu did an Amrit Parchaar, Holy Preaching, campaign in Haryana.

On 9 December 2022, Amritpal Singh Sandhu's supporters vandalised a gurudwara in Biharipura and then later on 13 December, vandalised another gurudwara in Jalandhar. They burned the chairs and sofas at these two gurudwaras claiming that one must not pray while sitting at the level of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy sripture of the Sikh community, at the gurudwara.

In February 2023, a man complained in an Ajnala police station stating that, he was kidnapped and beaten by the associates of Amritpal Singh Sandhu. An FIR was registered against Amritpal Singh Sandhu and his associates. The police arrested one of his close associates, Lovepreet Singh "Toofan".

After the arrest, Amritpal Singh Sandhu issued an "ultimatum" to Punjab Police to revoke the case and, when the police did not respond, his supporters broke through police barricades and stormed the police complex, armed with automatic guns and sharp weapons. 

Several police personnel were injured and police vehicles were damaged. Amritpal Singh Sandhu had styled their group like a Jatha carrying the Guru Granth Sahib in a palki sahib and used the holy book as a cover to infiltrate and to force the police into using acquiescent tactics. Punjab police later released Lovepreet Singh after the court ordered his release based on the police report.

Amritpal Singh Sandhu's wielding of the Guru Granth Sahib as a shield was condemned by scholars and the Sikh clergy alike. According to Pathankot Superintendent of Police Harpal Singh Randhawa, the police had to stand down to avoid committing sacrilege of the holy book.

Punjab government was alerted by the Punjab police about the future dangers of Amritpal Singh Sandhu and his group therefore Punjab government in consultation  and association with the central government took action against him and his group and arrested some of his associates and confidantes. But Amritpal Singh Sandhu was able to escape. The police team chased him and located him at various locations but he was successful in dodging the team. 

Amritpal Singh Sandhu regards Sant Jarnailsingh Bhindaranwala as martyr and considers him as his ideal. He has many supporters in foreign countries like Canada, USA and UK. Till date he is reported to be absconding and is out of the clutches of Punjab police and prosecttion.

22 April, 2023: Amritpal Singh Sandhu is reported to have been arrested. Further details are awaited.

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