Who is Amritpal Singh threatening the security of Punjab?
Amritsar/IBNS: A sea of supporters of the pro-Khalistan group 'Waris Punjab De' clashed with the police, and broke barricades outside Amritsar’s Ajnala Police Station in a protest against leader Amritpal Singh's close aide Lovepreet Toofan's arrest last Thursday creating a chaos in the north Indian state.
Protesters with swords and guns ran over police barricades erected outside Ajnala Police Station in Amritsar.
Six policemen were injured in the protests and were admitted to the Ajnala hospital, said the media reports.
'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh warned the police of the consequences if the FIR wasn’t withdrawn within an hour.
But who is Amritpal Singh?
Singh, a resident of Jallupur Khera in the Amritsar district of Punjab, moved to Dubai in 2012.
In Dubai, Singh joined the family business of transport.
Reportedly, Singh has a degree in mechanical engineering and had previously worked for a cargo company.
Singh, who came from Dubai to India last year, was appointed as the chief of 'Waris Punjab De' in 2022 only.
Singh, who has a considerable popularity on social media, claims the permanent solution to Punjab's crisis is its statehood.
Singh is also a follower of Sikh radical preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had resided inside the Golden Temple in the 1980s demanding a separate state for Sikhs.
Bhindranwale's aspirations were then thwarted by the Operation Blue Star which was given green signal by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Amritpal Singh on latest Punjab clash
Singh alleged that one of his aides arrested last week is innocent and he is being tortured even though his group is pursuing the case of Khalistan in a very peaceful manner.
"We are pursuing the case of Khalistan in a very peaceful manner, when people can demand a Hindu nation, why can't we raise a demand for Khalistan," Singh said, ANI reported.
He threatened to gherao the police station if his aide’s name is not dropped from the FIR.
Threatening dire consequences, Amritpal Singh said, "Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid the price of opposing the Khalistan movement. Nobody can stop us, be it PM Modi, Amit Shah, or Bhagwant Maan.”
He added, "the allegations levelled against me and my supporters are false."