Radical Sikh ‘preacher’ Amritpal Singh arrested: Who is he and what are the cases against him?

Just before his arrest, Amritpal recorded a video in which he justified his decision to evade the Punjab police, saying that the last month “exposed” the real face of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.

The preacher, who was on the run since March 18, has been booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and faces over half-a-dozen charges such as attempt to murder, abduction and extortion.

Disquiet against Amritpal and his activities has been on the rise steadily, ever since he arrived in Punjab from Dubai in 2022 and began making speeches about taking the youth back to “true Sikhi” and giving them shastra vidya (knowledge of weapons). The 29-year-old calls Bhindranwale his inspiration, dresses like him and even copies his mannerisms. According to a report in The Indian Express, before returning to India, Amritpal went to Georgia where he reportedly underwent cosmetic surgery to look like Bhindranwale

Who is Amritpal Singh?

Amritpal Singh first started gaining traction on social media during the farmers’ stir against the now-repealed farm laws. He was a vocal supporter of protest leader Deep Sidhu, who hit the headlines over the hoisting of the Nishan Sahib flag on the Red Fort on Republic Day in 2021. Amritpal then lived in Dubai, where he had been working as a dispatcher in the family-owned transport business for the past 10 years. His family is from Jallupur Khera in Amritsar.

In February 2022, Sidhu died in a car accident. It was a few months after this, in September 2022, that Amritpal returned from Dubai to become the head of Waris Punjab De, the organisation founded by Sidhu around a year earlier. The ceremony of his dastarbandi (installation) as the head of Waris Punjab De was held at Rode, Bhindranwale’s village, amid slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad”.

In his speech at Rode, Amritpal said, “We all (Punjabis) are still slaves. Those who think we are azaad (free), should consult a doctor. We have to fight for freedom. Our waters are being looted. Our Guru is being disrespected. Those who indulge in sacrilege, will not be handed over to police or sent to courts. Ohda sodha laguga (we will punish them).”

Amritpal’s popularity was built over Facebook Live and other social media sessions, with his aggressive speeches against regional and national political parties, feminists, activists, Khalsa Aid, and even some pro-Khalistan groups such as Dal Khalsa.

After he took over as the head of Waris Punjab De, Deep Sidhu’s family publicly dissociated themselves from him. Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Deep Sidhu’s brother, had told The Indian Express, “My brother made this organisation for a social cause, to raise issues of Punjab and to provide legal aid to the needy, not to propagate Khalistan. Amritpal is talking about creating unrest in Punjab. He is fooling people using my brother’s and Khalistan’s name.”

What are the cases against Amritpal?

The first case against Amritpal was filed on February 16 for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a person. The next week, he was booked with an attempt to murder case after he and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station complex, and injured a handful of policemen as they tried to free an aide arrested under a case of abduction.

On March 18, as police began cracking down against Amritpal and his aides, the radical preacher fled. He was then booked in a case of rash or negligent driving and disobedience to the order of a public servant at Mehatpur police station as his vehicle allegedly hit several vehicles, including a police vehicle.

The next day, Amritpal and others were booked in two different cases. One was filed by the Amritsar rural police under Arms Act after the recovery of arms from the members of Waris Punjab De, arrested during the crackdown. The other was registered at Khilchian police station for offences of rash driving, criminal intimidation, and obstructing a public servant in discharging their duty.

On March 21, Amritpal was booked in another case at Shahkot police station. In this case, he has been accused of “extortion by putting a person in a fear of death, criminal intimidation, rioting, unlawful assembly and under sections of the Arms Act.”