4 min readAmritsar, JalandharApr 21, 2023 07:59 AM IST
First published on: Apr 20, 2023 at 01:09 PM IST
Fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur was on Thursday stopped from boarding a flight to London at the Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport and sent back to her husband’s home in Amritsar’s Jallupur Khera even as Congress leader and former chief minister questioned the action asking why was she harassed.
According to police, Kirandeep, a British citizen, was stopped by immigration officials at the airport as a Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against her.
She was questioned for about three hours before being told to return to her husband’s native village Jallupur Khera. Some relatives who had come to see her off at the airport took her back.
“We prevented her from leaving the country. She was neither detained nor arrested. She was just stopped because she is needed for questioning related to the case,” said SSP Satinder Singh, without specifying which case.
Amritpal Singh has been on the run since March 18 after a police crackdown against him and members of his outfit Waris Punjab De.
Kirandeep had reached the airport at around 12 noon to board the flight to London, but was stopped by the immigration staff, who then informed the Punjab Police. The Air India flight for London took off at its scheduled time of 2.30 pm.
Addressing a Congress rally in Jalandhar, where Lok Sabha bypoll is scheduled for May 10, former CM Channi asked why Kirandeep was stopped from boarding a flight to London. “She had to visit her family. Others may not say this, but but I will speak. She was at home for a month, if there was anything, she could have been arrested from there or questioned. Why was she sent back from the airport?” he asked.
Channi said that daughters and sisters are worthy of respect. “Why are you harassing his wife? What is her fault? She is an overseas citizen and is it her mistake that she got married here? We have to stand with the truth and speak the truth,” he added.
Kirandeep had a 180-day visa to stay in India. It was the second time that she had come to India on a six-month visa in the last one year. Kaur had earlier said that she would have to go back to England due to visa issues but would come back.
Born and brought up in England, Kirandeep had married Amritpal on February 10. She had came in touch with Amritpal over social media. Impressed by his activism on Sikh issues, Kirandeep, who had been working in England, had first contacted Amritpal on Instagram. Kirandeep’s grandfather had moved to England from Jalandhar in 1951.
Amritpal had earlier said that his marriage with Kirandeep was an example of reverse migration. After the wedding ceremony, Amritpal told reporters that his wife would live with him in Punjab. “We want Punjabis to return to Punjab and settle here,” he had said.
He had kept his marriage a low key affair and no picture of Kirandeep was released. Amritpal had said during an interview that his wife was not interested in politics. She remained low profile after marriage. However, she hit the headlined when Punjab Police officials allegedly questioned her at her in-law’s house in Jallupur Khera. The police never confirmed the motive of questioning.
In an interview, Kirandeep had said that Amritpal had discussed with her the possible risks she may have to face if she marries him and the chances of her landing in trouble.
Amritpal's wife Kirandeep Kaur at Amritsar airport. 
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