Premium
This is an archive article published on March 18, 2023

Amritpal Singh untraceable, police asked us to tell him to surrender, says his father

Punjab Police has neither confirmed nor denied any allegation about the crackdown.

Amritpal Singh, PunjabPolice force at Amritpal's native village Jallupur Khera in Amritsar. (Express photo by Rana Simranjit Singh)
Listen to this article
Amritpal Singh untraceable, police asked us to tell him to surrender, says his father
x
00:00
1x 1.5x 1.8x

Even as Warris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh remained untraceable, his father said that police had asked the family to tell him to surrender. Police, however, have not made public anything about their crackdown on the radical Sikh leader and his supporters.

“We don’t know where Amritpal Singh is. According to our information, he was arrested. But the police have asked us to tell Amritpal to surrender. We are concerned that something may happen to him,” his father told reporters.

“Police are after Amritpal but doing nothing against drug smugglers. Amritpal came to Punjab just a few months back. What were they doing about the crime before he came?” said his father. “Amritpal is working against drugs. It is the reason that there is political pressure to arrest him. This action against Amritpal is unjustified. There are drugs in every home. But there is no focus on that issue. If someone is trying to end the drug menace, he is being stopped.”

Asked if Amritpal’s activities were anti-national, he said, “Isn’t selling drugs anti-national?”

“Police came to our home and searched it. We cooperated with them. We are doing nothing illegal to hide,” said Amritpal’s father.

The crackdown came just days before Amritpal was to resume Khalsa Vaheer from Muktsar district. Asked if Khalsa Vaheer is the reason behind the crackdown, he said, “Yes, that is also a reason.”

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Amritpal’s native Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar district. Amritpal was to attend two functions on Saturday, one at Shahkot in Jalandhar and the other in Moga. Police, however, had other plans. They gave him a surprise when his motorcade was intercepted near Shahkot.

Story continues below this ad

His supporters have shared online videos alleging a police crackdown but police have neither confirmed nor denied any allegations.

Amritpal had plans to visit a village in Bathinda district. He had been on the way there when police tried to intercept him near Mehtabpur in Jalandhar. Six of his supporters have reportedly been detained from Mehtabpur.

Before the crackdown, Amritpal released a video and announced that Khalsa Vaheer would start from Sunday. “Vaheer was suspended for some reasons. Now it will start from Sunday. We will start from Muktsar and conclude at Takht Damdma Sahib Talwandi Sabo on the occasion of Baisakhi.”

Khalsa Vaheer was started by Amritpal last year with an aim to baptise the Sikh youth. Its first phase started in November and concluded in December.

Story continues below this ad

Soon after the Khalsa Vaheer video surfaced online, Amritpal’s supporters broke news that police were chasing his vehicles. Unverified videos also show Amritpal sitting in a speeding car. His supporters’ houses have also been raided.

There was a kidnapping case registered against Amritpal at the Ajnala police station in Amritsar. Police did not disclose if they had registered any case against him after his supporters stormed into the police station on February 24.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments