Police kept the details under wraps: FIRs that led to Amritpal arrest filed day before he stormed Ajnala police station

A day after these FIRs were registered, Amritpal Singh along with his supporters had stormed into the Ajnala police station complex on February 23 for which an FIR was registered for attempt to murder and other sections. Even the FIR in the Ajnala violence incident was kept a secret until the crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief began on March 18.

These FIRs, disclosed in the NSA detention ground orders against Daljit Singh Kalsi, were acquired by his lawyer Simranjit Singh. Kalsi has also been arrested under NSA and is currently in an Assam jail.

The first FIR was registered at the Baggapurana police station under sections 121-A (attempt to excite disaffection towards Government of India), 143 (attending unlawful assembly), 153-A (promoting disharmony, enmity between different groups) 153-B (Offence in religious assembly), 505(2) (Publishing, circulating statement to promote enmity), and 188 (disobedience of duty magistrate) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The second one was registered at the police station Division B under Amritsar Police Commissionerate under IPC sections 153-A and 505.

These three FIRS are the main ground behind the arrest of Amritpal Singh and others under the stringent National Security Act.

The FIR at the Baghapurana police station was registered for the speech Amritpal gave at an event held to mark WPD founder Deep Sidhu’s death anniversary at the Buddh Singh Wala village on February 19. Amritpal, Varinder Singh alias Fauzi, Kulwant Singh Raunke, Basant Singh Daulatpura, and other unknown persons have been named in this FIR.

The FIR quotes the speech of Amritpal in which he had allegedly said, “No government in the world can stop Sikhs from achieving Khalistan, from achieving an independent Sikh state. We will fight, and our races will fight and continue to become martyrs. We will rule this land tomorrow if not today. It is an appeal to the youth that there is no other way except martyrdom which can make any work free. This slavery will not end by sacrificing my head alone, we will all have to sacrifice. If so, let’s die for our freedom”.

It pointed out, “In this way, Amritpal Singh is calling for a war against the Indian government to achieve Khalistan state and increasing enmity based on language, religion, and race, along with his fellows at village Budh Singh Wala and has committed the offence of inciting hostilities against the Government of India by exhibiting deadly weapons and making inflammatory speeches.”

The second FIR was registered in the context of Deep Sidhu’s death anniversary as well. On February 15. Amritpal Singh had talked to the media outside Harmandir Sahib. However, the FIR mentions the place as outside Jallianwala Bagh. According to the FIR, he said.

“Today is the first anniversary of Shaheed Bhai Sandeep Singh Deep Sidhu, (his) first martyrdom day. It was a year ago that the government of India took him away from the community under a conspiracy. So, today on the first anniversary we have come to the Akal Takht Sahib to pray, one to remember him and for his dream of the community’s freedom. We have come to pray for the struggle of the community’s home, the rising spirits of the community, and the path that he has shown us. May God give us the strength so we can follow them.”

The FIR also quotes Amritpal Singh’s comments to the media. “It is obvious from the government’s attitude towards Sikhs, to keep the Sikhs as slaves and to make them realise that Sikhs are not equal citizens. When Sikhs fight for their rights, they are tagged as terrorists… Tell me, has the prime minister or the home minister of the country ever said they will snub Hindu nationals? It means that there is a difference between the Sikhs’ inspiration and the inspiration of Hindus. Sikhs can’t do it, [but] Hindus can have their own dream. I think that nothing can be snubbed. We have been walking on the path of sacrifice… It has been 500 years, many states have come to oppose us… they have conspired against us even now….” the police document quotes him as saying.

According to the FIR, the statements of Amritpal Singh have disturbed the peace and tranquillity of the country. “He, in the name of religion, is dividing the nation and disturbing the situation. He has used language to incite hatred amongst various groups, based on religion. This may disturb our peace for which a case should be registered and investigated,” reads the FIR.