On Saturday, Punjab police launched a massive manhunt to apprehend separatist leader and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh.
Earlier in the day, a few of Amritpal’s associates were apprehended in Mehatpur, while others, including the self-styled Sikh preacher, were able to flee in his vehicle. The chase was broadcast live from his car.
According to a senior official with the state’s home affairs department, internet services have been suspended throughout the state until noon on Sunday.
In the last 6-7 months, the 30-year-old has risen to prominence.
Biography of Amritpal Singh
Amritpal Singh Sandhu is a radical self-styled Indian Khalistani separatist and fugitive from Punjab, India. He heads an organization called Waris Panjab De.
He rose to prominence in September 2022 after he returned from Dubai to India to become the leader of the organization after the death of its previous leader Deep Sidhu in a car accident but his position is disputed.
He has close links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence and terror groups.
After the sudden death of Deep Sidhu, a letter was published by Waris Panjab De on 4 March 2022 declaring Amritpal Singh as the organization’s leader.
When Singh returned to Punjab from Dubai, an official inauguration ceremony was held on 29 September 2022 at Rode in Moga, the native village of the former Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
He took Amrit in Anandpur Sahib after being elected. His succession is disputed by some aides of Sidhu and critics claim that he wasn’t endorsed by Sidhu’s family.
Sidhu’s brother stated that Sidhu blocked Amritpal’s phone number for fifteen days in the past and that Singh’s succession to the position was illegal.
Amritpal openly supports the cause of Khalistan, the separatist movement calling for a separate homeland/country for people of the Sikh faith.
He has given several statements in which he openly rallies for Khalistan stating, “Our aim for Khalistan shouldn’t be seen as evil and taboo. It should be seen from an intellectual point of view as to what could be its geopolitical benefits. It’s an ideology and ideology never dies. We are not asking for it from Delhi”.
He further stated in a separate instance that the Khalistan sentiment will remain in the population and that no one can suppress it.
He threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that he will meet the same fate as Indira Gandhi who was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.
Singh has stated in the past that Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is their hero.
He also dresses and presents himself similarly to Bhindranwale, who was killed in Operation Blue Star in 1984.
This includes wearing a turban and robe similar to the ones by Bhindranwale and moving with heavily armed men around him.
He also entered the Golden Temple with a group of armed men called Faujaan. His supporters also hail him as a second Bhindranwale.
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 under a preemptive house arrest briefly, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of retaliatory violence against him, although he had no prior connection with Suri nor with the murder.
After being released from house arrest, Singh did an Amrit Parchaar campaign in Haryana.
