Amritpal Singh

Last updated

Kirandeep Kaur
​
(m. 2023)​
Amritpal Singh
Amritpal Singh Jallupur.jpg
Singh in 2022
2nd Jathedar of Waris Punjab De
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 September 2022
Occupation
  • Politician
  • preacher
Known for Khalistani separatism [2]

Amritpal Singh Sandhu (born 17 January 1993) [3] [4] is a radical [8] Indian pro-Khalistan separatist, [11] a self-styled Sikh preacher [13] and politician. He is a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha representing the constituency of Khadoor Sahib since 2024. [14] [15] [16]

Contents

After living in Dubai for a decade, he returned to Punjab in September 2022, having been controversially appointed as the leader of Waris Punjab De and started a campaign which encouraged youth to refrain from drugs, adopt a traditionalist form of Sikhism, and advocated a sovereign Punjabi Sikh nation state called Khalistan. [17] [18] [19]

Indian intelligence sources claim that Sandhu has been supported by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), [23] that he has stockpiled arms while raising a private militia called Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF). [24] [25] [32] In March 2023, the state government, acting in coordination with the central government, launched an intense crackdown on Sandhu and his associates. [36] He was arrested on 23 April 2023 under the National Security Act (India). [37] [38]

Early life

Amritpal Singh grew up as a resident of Jallupur Khera, a village in the Baba Bakala tehsil of Amritsar district of Punjab, India into the Sandhu clan of Jatt Sikhs. He was the youngest of the three children of Tarsem Singh and Balwinder Kaur. [39] His family is said to be very religious. [12] His uncle Harjit Singh Sandhu was the sarpanch (head of village) for 10 years before moving to the United Kingdom. [40] [41]

After passing the 10th class, Amritpal enrolled in a diploma course in mechanical engineering at Lord Krishna Polytechnic College in Kapurthala in 2009. He dropped out after three years, never having completed the course. [42] [12]

In 2012, he moved to Dubai in UAE to join his family's transport business. [43] His LinkedIn profile claimed that he has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Punjab. [43] His profile further claimed that he was the "Operations Manager" at a company called Sandhu Cargo Transport and that he had experience in transportation, trucking and railroad industry. [44] According to The Indian Express , he worked as a dispatcher for about ten years. [45] Some sources state that he was a truck driver. [46] However, many details of his time in Dubai for the rest of the decade remain unknown. [47]

Amritpal often spoke about issues concerning Punjab on social media. In 2019, he started supporting the farmers' protest and also became a vocal supporter of Deep Sidhu. His social media reach multiplied after he got associated with Sidhu. He travelled to India to support the protest. At that time, he was a Sahajdhari. After the farm laws were withdrawn, he returned to Dubai. [39] [44]

Waris Punjab De

During the farmers' protest, the actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu attempted to broaden the agenda of the agitation into fighting for the "rights of Punjab". Amritpal is said to have been a vocal supporter of Sidhu and his role in the agitation. [48] Sidhu is alleged to have led a group of farmers to storm the Red Fort in Delhi on the Republic Day of 2021. He was arrested for the action and spent a few months in prison. After getting released on bail, he founded the Waris Punjab De ("Heirs of Punjab") organisation to fight for what he termed the rights of Punjab. [49]

Amritpal also became a part of Waris Punjab De, remotely from Dubai. [49] Others have said that Sidhu did not appreciate the "Khalistani" slant of Amritpal and blocked him from the audio discussion forum during the farmers' protests. Sidhu is also said to have blocked Amritpal's phone from his personal contacts in February 2022. [46]

In Dubai, Amritpal Singh is said to have come in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has supported the Khalistan movement in the past. [21] [22] [a] He was in touch with Jaswant Singh Rode, a nephew of Bhindranwale and brother of Lakhbir Singh Rode who runs the International Sikh Youth Federation from Lahore, and a Babbar Khalsa militant called Paramjit Singh Pamma. Through them, he is said to have gotten in touch with Avtar Singh Khanda, a UK-based Sikh activist belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), whose father is a member of the Khalistan Liberation Force. According to Indian intelligence, Khanda then groomed Amritpal Singh to be a Khalistan activist, including sending him to Georgia for training. [24] [21] [51] [b] [c]

Succession to Deep Sidhu

After the sudden death of Deep Sidhu in February 2022, [54] a letter appeared on a Facebook account of Waris Punjab De on 4 March 2022 appointing Amritpal as the organisation's leader. [46] The appointment remains controversial. According to some sources, Sidhu had appointed Harnek Singh Uppal as the head of the organisation even while he was alive. So Sidhu's death did not make a difference to the organisation. A break-away faction of the organisation apparently chose Amritpal as its leader using a "hacked" Facebook account, while the original organisation has continued under Uppal (now called the "Deep Sidhu faction"). [12] [46] [55] Sidhu's family disowned Amritpal and called for an investigation into his antecedents. [56]

Amritpal returned to Punjab in August 2022 with a flowing beard and turban. [44] He gave up his role in the family's business and also his permanent resident status in Canada. [12] In September, he got baptised at Anandpur Sahib in front of a larger gathering. [57] [39] A week later, a dastarbandi (turban tying ceremony) was held for him in the Rode village in Moga district, the native place of former militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. [12] [41] By this time, Amritpal Singh was already being treated as a big leader. He was lodged in the house of the sarpanch (head of village) and a long line of people came to see him. His dastarbandi served as his inauguration as the head of Waris Punjab De, amid slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad". [12] [39]

In his inauguration speech, Amritpal said that the Sikhs had been slaves for 150 years, first to the British and later to the "Hindus". The only way to be totally free is to have "Sikh rule". [12] Passing 15 resolutions including one saying that nobody could "interfere" with Sikh affairs, he declared a "fight for freedom". "Our waters are being looted", "our Guru is being desecrated", "factories encroached into our land", “our groundwater has depleted”, "our turbans are being disrespected", and “the head of our nation calls us keshdhari (long-haired) Hindus”. These were all alleged to be signs of slavery. [9] [39] [12]

Campaigning and Prachaar

Soon after his initiation, Amritpal Singh started a campaign to motivate youth to shun drugs and irreligious ( patit ) lifestyle, calling them to the gurdwaras to receive baptism (amrit-sanchaar). His efforts received praise from religious authorities. An official of the Akal Takht said that, whereas normally they would receive around 200 youth for baptism on a Sunday, Amritpal's efforts resulted in over 1,000 people coming. Amritpal has visited the outlying regions of Sikhism such as Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and places in Haryana, and he is also said to have attracted people from far away places such as Delhi, Maharashtra and Jammu. [58] [12] [59]

Later in November, he started a Khalsa Vaheer tour (religious procession to spread the Sikh belief) through the state of Punjab, to motivate youth to take up Khalsa (pure Sikh order). He marched from Amritsar to Anandpur Sahib over the period of a month. [60] He was accompanied by supporters carrying automatic guns and bullets. [2] During the events, he is reported to have preached radical views, glorifying weapons and violence. [61] By the end of December, he had baptised more than 3000 youth, with the alleged motive of inducting them into Khalistan activism. [62]

Drug rehabilitation

Amritpal opened up a drug rehab facility and many, such as local journalists Amandeep Sandhu and Sandeep Singh (the latter having interviewed Amritpal in Dubai), attribute his wide popularity to his willingness to tackle social issues head-on, such as the drug problem, when previous governments have failed to solve these issues. [63] Drug addiction and abuse are serious issues in Punjab, a study by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in 2022 revealed around 15.4% of the state's population of 30 million were narcotic users. [63] [64]

Indian security agencies have stated that, although he presented himself as an anti-drug activist, he was in contact with people in Dubai and London who were involved in smuggling drugs into Punjab. He was suspected of using his drug de-addiction centers to set up hideouts and storehouses for weapons being smuggled from Pakistan using drones. [25]

An investigative report by India Today found that the "drug rehabilitation" centers indulged in several irregularities, including administering random pills to inmates and beating those who attempted to leave the center. Police footage showed a number of illegal firearms being seized from the center. The police accused him of using the centers to rope in drug addicts into his private militia, the Anand Khalsa Fauj. [65]

Incongruously, his brother was arrested in 2024 in a drug case in Phillaur town for carrying methamphetamine, and a dope test confirmed positive results. [66]

Early controversies

In October 2022, in one of his speeches, Amritpal said, "Jesus who could not save himself, how he will save everyone else?" which was termed hate speech by members of the Christian community. The Christian community staged a four hours-long protest against Amritpal at PAP Chowk for his remarks about Jesus Christ. The protesters demanded that an FIR should be lodged against him under 295A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) for "hurting religious sentiments and attempting to aggravate communal divisions". [67] [68] [69]

On 7 October, the Twitter account of Amritpal was withheld in India for his remarks and pro-Khalistani tweets. [39] The Ministry of Home Affairs also instructed the state government of Punjab to remain vigilant over his activities. [70]

With Amritpal's Facebook account already being suspended, his Instagram account was suspended on 25 February 2023. In retaliation, Amritpal supporters clashed with the police, resulting in six policemen being injured. [71] [72]

Khalistan and Bhindranwale styling

Amritpal openly supports the cause of Khalistan, the separatist movement calling for a separate homeland/country for people of 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. [73] 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. [74]

Singh has stated that Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed in Operation Blue Star in 1984, is his hero. [12] He dresses and presents himself in a similar manner, wearing a turban and traditional robes [75] and moving with heavily armed men around him. [2] [74] He also entered the Golden Temple with a group of armed men called Faujaan. [76] A minority of his supporters have referred to him as a second Bhindranwale. [77]

Political career

Member of Parliament

In May 2024, Singh decided to run as an independent candidate for the Khadoor Sahib constituency of Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections. His campaign was led by his family and supporters due to his detention in Assam's Dibrugarh Jail under the National Security Act. [78] [79]

On 4 June 2024, Singh won the elections from Khadoor Sahib and was elected as a Member of the Lok Sabha by defeating his nearest competitor, Kulbir Singh Zira of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 197,120 votes. This victory marked the largest win by votes and the widest margin in the history of the Khadoor Sahib constituency. [80] [81] [82]

He was granted a 4-day parole on 5 July 2024 to take oath as MP. He travelled from Dibrugarh to New Delhi under high police security for his oath as the member of the 18th Lok Sabha. [83]

Participation in violence

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 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, Amritpal did an Amrit Parchaar campaign in Haryana. [84] [85]

On 9 December 2022, Amritpal's supporters vandalised a gurudwara in Biharipura and then later on 13 December, vandalised another gurudwara in Jalandhar. They burned the chairs and sofas at these two gurudwaras claiming that one must not pray while sitting at the level of the Guru Granth Sahib at the gurudwara. [86] [87]

Ajnala clash

In February 2023, a man complained in an Ajnala police station stating he was kidnapped and beaten by the associates of Amritpal. An FIR was registered against Amritpal and his associates. The police arrested one of his close associates, Lovepreet Singh "Toofan". [88] [47]

After the arrest, Amritpal issued an "ultimatum" to Punjab Police to revoke the case and, when the police did not respond, his supporters broke through police barricades and stormed the police complex, armed with automatic guns and sharp weapons. [89] [6] Several police personnel were injured and police vehicles were damaged. Amritpal had styled their group like a Jatha carrying the Guru Granth Sahib in a palki sahib and used the holy book as a cover to infiltrate and to force the police into using acquiescent tactics. [6] [47] Punjab police later released Lovepreet Singh after the court ordered his release based on the police report. [90] [73] [91]

Amritpal's wielding of the Guru Granth Sahib as a shield was condemned by scholars and the Sikh clergy alike. According to Pathankot Superintendent of Police Harpal Singh Randhawa, the police had to stand down to avoid committing sacrilege of the holy book. [47] [92]

Crackdown and arrest

On 18 March, the Punjab Police initiated a crackdown against Waris Punjab De, arresting 78 persons and detaining several others for questioning. [d] Amritpal Singh was wanted for attempted murder, obstruction of law enforcement and creating disharmony in society [38] and was reported to be absconding. [35] The crackdown happened one day prior to a planned Khalsa Vaheer programme by Amritpal from Muktsar district. [95] In the hunt to arrest him, the police have set up road blocks around the region, and were involved in a car chase, but he managed to escape. [96] He switched cars and changed clothes to avoid detection during the chase, eventually escaping on a motor cycle. He, along with his uncle and an associate, allegedly threatened the family of a sarpanch and forcefully stayed at their house. The police recovered the vehicles used and a .315 rifle stashed in one of them. The uncle and associate have also been arrested. [97] [98] [99]

Waris Punjab De filed a habeas corpus plea in the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging the police had already detained him illegally. [100] [101] The government of Punjab rejected this claim and informed the High Court that they are close to catching Amritpal Singh. [102] Amritpal and four of his associates were charged under the National Security Act (NSA). [103] In the process of this manhunt, more than 200 people, including direct aides of Amritpal were arrested. [104] In Amritsar, a “hue and cry notice” was issued to identify the whereabouts of Singh. [105]

Mobile internet services in Punjab were suspended and text messaging services were disabled during the weekend, until the afternoon of 21 March, affecting 27 million people. [106] [35] [94] In few districts, the restrictions were extended till 23 March. [107] [108] Gatherings of more than four people were prohibited in Chandigarh under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. [109] The Indian government also requested Twitter withhold 122 accounts linked to Amritpal Singh or Waris Punjab De. These accounts were withheld. [110]

After 11 days of hideout on 29 March Amritpal Singh released a video urging the Sikh collective to gather for a Sarbat Khalsa. [111]

On 23 April, after being on the run for 35 days, Amritpal was arrested from Rode Village in Moga, Punjab. He was then sent to Dibrugarh central jail in Assam under NSA. [37]

Allegations and charges

Indian intelligence agencies allege that he has links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and global Khalistan terror groups. [116] He has been trained by the ISI in Georgia to execute a separatist agenda, according to them. [20] [117] Photographs of Khalistani flags, emblems, currency, guns marked "A.K.F" (Anandpur Khalsa Fauj), videos of firing range and WhatsApp groups of A.K.F. were discovered from the phone of a close aide of Amritpal, Tajinder Singh Gill, aka "Gorkha Baba". [118] Dubious deposits to the tune of nearly 40 Crore INR mostly from foreign sources were detected in the accounts of multiple members of Waris De Punjab. [119] The agencies' reports claim that he has been raising his own army and 'human bomb squads' consisting of brainwashed youth as suicide bombers idolising Dilawar Singh. [120] [121]

Reactions

Domestic

Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh, accused the authorities of "creating an atmosphere of terror in the state". [122] Journalists, politicians, and celebrities who criticised the heavy-handed response of the government have had their social media accounts blocked in India. [123] [103] The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has demanded the police "stop arresting innocent Sikh youth". [124]

Political opposition leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, denounced the actions of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government accusing it of "indiscriminately" arresting "innocent Amritdhari Sikh youth". [125] Arvind Kejriwal, leader of AAP, praised the local ruling AAP state government and its leader, Bhagwant Mann, for the crackdown, stating the state government was not afraid of taking hard decisions against criminal activity. [126]

Sikh protestors in Mohali blocked a major intersection and demanded to know the whereabouts of Amritpal. [127] Amritpal's father, Tarsem Singh, alleged that the authorities were targeting his son due to his anti-drug mission. [95]

International

Diasporic Sikhs protested the actions of the authorities against Amritpal. A mob of protesters attacked the Indian consulate in San Francisco, another mob attacked the Indian High Commission office in London and attempted to pull down the Indian flag off the pole, broke windows and inflicted minor injuries on security staff. [128] [129] [130] The NIA has claimed that a group of protestors in San Francisco were exhorted to kill all representatives of the Indian government. [131] Further, two people poured flammable material in the entrance of the consulate and attempted to set the building on fire. [132] In Canada, Sikh groups attacked the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and threw two grenades into the building, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amritpal Singh's brother in law, Amarjot Singh, has been named as the primary accused in the attack. [131] Some reports stated they were smoke grenades. [133] In Washington, Khalistani supporters verbally intimidated and physically assaulted an Indian journalist covering the protests. [134] In Surrey, another journalist was allegedly assaulted and harassed by Khalistani supporters. [135] The Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, was threatened with assassination by Khalistanis. [136] Peaceful protests without incident also took place in Auckland, New Zealand and other localities around the world. [137] [138] [139] [140]

British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi criticised the government's actions. [141] Concerns about the situation were also raised by Canadian Sikh MPs. [142] Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh asked the Canadian government to raise concerns with their Indian counterparts regarding suspension of civil liberties. [140] A number of Canadian MPs who expressed concern regarding the situation in Punjab received threatening messages over social media. [143]

Personal life

Photograph of Amritpal Singh Sandhu amritpaal siNgh kh'aalsaa.jpg
Photograph of Amritpal Singh Sandhu

On 10 February 2023, Amritpal married Kirandeep Kaur, a native of Jalandhar district who used to live in the United Kingdom. [144] [145] Amritpal described it as an instance of "reverse migration" and encouraged Punjabis to return to Punjab and settle there. [146] As of March 2023, she resides in Jallupur Khera, the native village of Amritpal Singh. [147]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Pakistan's geopolitical dimensions behind the Khalistan movement have been traced by Canadian journalist Terry Milewski. [50]
  2. ↑ Khanda was arrested by British police in March for vandalising the Indian embassy in London. [51] Lakhbir Singh Rode is booked in India for smuggling drugs and explosives across the border from Pakistan. [52]
  3. ↑ Amritpal's stay in Georgia from 11 June 2022 and 20 August 2022 was stamped on his Indian passport. [53]
  4. ↑ The eventual number of arrests was reported as 112. [93] [94]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalistan movement</span> Sikh separatist movement in the Punjab region

The Khalistan movement is a separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing an ethno‐religious sovereign state called Khalistan in the Punjab region. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary between different groups; some suggest the entirety of the Sikh-majority Indian state of Punjab, while larger claims include Pakistani Punjab and other parts of North India such as Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Shimla and Lahore have been proposed as the capital of Khalistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Blue Star</span> 1984 Indian military operation against Sikh militants

Operation Blue Star was a military operation by the Indian Armed Forces conducted between 1 and 10 June 1984 to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other Sikh militants from the Golden Temple, a holy site of Sikhism, and its adjacent buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale</span> Figure in the Sikh Khalistan movement (1947–1984)

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a Sikh militant. After Operation Bluestar, he posthumously became the leading figure for the Khalistan movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)</span> Indian political party

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) is a hard-line Sikh nationalist political party led by Simranjit Singh Mann, it is a splinter group of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, India. They use 'Balti', the Punjabi term for bucket as their official election symbol. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) was formed on 1 May 1994. The party has seen a resurgence in support after the deaths of Deep Sidhu and Sidhu Moose Wala who were supporters and seen as sympathetic to the cause of Simranjit Singh Mann. Their 2022 Lok Sabha victory after more than two decades has been viewed as a resurgence in a political vacuum due to collapse of other traditional political parties in Punjab. The last major victory for Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) was in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, where the party and their allies won 10 out of 13 seats from Punjab.

Talwinder Singh Parmar Indian militant and Sikh separatist (1944–1992)

Talwinder Singh Parmar was an Indian militant, Sikh separatist, and the mastermind of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, which killed 329 people. It was the worst single incident of aviation terrorism in history until the September 11 attacks in the United States. In addition, another bomb was meant to explode aboard Air India Flight 301 in Japan the same day, but it exploded while the plane was still grounded, killing two people. Parmar was also the founder, leader, and Jathedar of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), better known as Babbar Khalsa, a Sikh militant group involved in the Khalistan movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dal Khalsa (organization)</span> Radical Sikh outfit

Dal Khalsa is a radical Sikh organisation, based in the city of Amritsar. The outfit was formed in 1978 by Gajinder Singh, the hijacker of Indian Airlines Flight 423. It came to prominence during Insurgency in Punjab along with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in 1981. Members of the Dal Khalsa have also been accused of the assassination of Lala Jagat Narain. The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to form a Punjabi Sikh nation state called Khalistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalistan Commando Force</span> Sikh Khalistani organisation

The Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) is a Sikh Khalistani militant organisation operating in the state of Punjab, India with prominent members based in Canada, United Kingdom and Pakistan. Its objective is the creation of a Sikh independent state of Khalistan through armed struggle. KCF is also responsible for many assassinations in India, including the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. It is designated as a Terrorist Organisation by the Government of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Punjab, India</span> 1984–1995 Sikh-nationalist militant uprising in Punjab, India

The Insurgency in Punjab was an armed campaign by the separatists of the Khalistan movement from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Economic and social pressures driven by the Green Revolution prompted calls for Sikh autonomy and separatism. This movement was initially peaceful, but foreign involvement and political pressures drove a heavy handed response from Indian authorities. The demand for a separate Sikh state gained momentum after the Indian Army's Operation Blue Star in 1984 aimed to flush out militants residing in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a holy site for Sikhs. Terrorism, police brutality and corruption of the authorities greatly exacerbated a tense situation. By the mid-1980s, the movement had evolved into a militant secessionist crisis due to the perceived indifference of the Indian state in regards to mutual negotiations. Eventually, more effective police and military operations, combined with a policy of rapprochement by the Indian government and the election loss of separatist sympathizers in the 1992 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, largely quelled the rebellion by the mid-1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simranjit Singh Mann</span> Indian politician (born 1955)

Simranjit Singh Mann is a former Indian Police Service officer and a former Member of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India, representing the constituency of Sangrur since 2022. He lost elections in 2024 and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer became new member of parliament. He is the president of the political party Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). Mann has served three-times as an MP; once from Taran Tarn between 1989 and 1991, and twice from Sangrur between 1999-2004 and since 2022. He is a known Khalistani supporter and his party is known for their pro-Khalistan stances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalistan Liberation Force</span> Sikh militant group

The Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) is a Khalistani militant organisation operating in the Punjab with prominent members based in Canada, United Kingdom and Pakistan. Its objective is the creation of a sovereign Sikh nation‐state of Khalistan through armed struggle. It is responsible for numerous assassinations, abductions, and military engagements with the Indian Armed Forces during the Insurgency in Punjab. The KLF is also listed as a designated terrorist group by India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagjit Singh Chohan</span> Sikh separatist leader (1929–2007)

Jagjit Singh Chohan was an Indian political activist who was a leader of the Sikh Khalistan movement that sought to create a sovereign Sikh state in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Chohan established the Council of Khalistan at Anandpur Sahib on 12 April 1980 and became its first self‐styled president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labh Singh</span> Leader of Khalistan Commando Force

Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, also known as General Labh Singh and Sukha Sipahi was an Indian militant, police officer, and Sikh separatist who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru, was arrested in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Sikh Youth Federation</span> Banned organization in India

The International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) is an organisation that aims to establish an independent homeland for the Sikhs called Khalistan.

Lakhbir Singh Rode was an Indian Khalistani separatist and the nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep Sidhu</span> Indian actor and activist (1984–2022)

Sandeep Singh Sidhu, also known as Deep Sidhu, was an Indian film actor and Sikh activist. He worked in Punjabi films, starting his acting career with the film Ramta Jogi produced by Dharmendra under his banner Vijayta Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhs for Justice</span> US-based Sikh separatist group

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is a U.S.-based secessionist group advocating for the creation of Khalistan. Founded in 2009 by lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the organization emerged in response to the lack of legal action to convict those responsible for the killings and massacres of Sikhs following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waris Punjab De</span> Political group in Punjab, India (founded 2022)

Waris Punjab De is a Sikh political group based in Punjab, India. It was initially a pressure group advocating issues related to the state, which subsequently became pro-Khalistan. Deep Sidhu was the group's founder-chief until his death in February 2022. Amritpal Singh took charge of the group after the death of its founder.

In March 2023, pro-Khalistan Sikhs protested across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Punjab, India, against the manhunt of the pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh and crackdown on his organisation Waris Punjab De, carried out by the Indian authorities. In the United States Sikh activists demonstrated in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harmeet Singh (militant)</span> 8th Chief of Khalistan Liberation Force

Harmeet Singh also known as PhD or Happy was the 8th chief of Khalistan Liberation Force.

References

  1. 1 2 Menon, Aditya (6 October 2022). "Amritpal Singh: How a 29-Year-Old From Dubai Rose Dramatically in Sikh Politics". The Quint. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Manjeet Sehgal (23 February 2023). "Bhindranwale 2.0: Who is Khalistani separatist leader Amrit Pal Singh?". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. The self-styled chief of the separatist Khalistani pressure group - 'Waris Punjab De', Amrit Pal Singh, is trying to establish himself as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale 2.0.
  3. ↑ Mahajan, Anilesh S. (28 February 2023). "Amritpal Singh Sandhu: Punjab in panthic ferment". India Today. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Preacher, 'influencer', ideologue: Meet Amritpal Singh, head of Waris Punjab De". The Indian Express. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "'Bhindranwale 2.0': Radical Khalistan Sympathiser Amritpal Singh Active In Punjab". NDTV News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. Often escorted by armed supporters and donning a flowing white 'chola' and a navy-blue turban, radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh has been very active for some time in Punjab.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Sethi, Chitleen K. (23 February 2023). "Radical activist Amritpal storms Ajnala police station with supporters, secures aide's release". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Radical preacher Amritpal Singh issue: Habeas corpus petition moved in HC seeking his 'release'". Financial Express. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. ↑ [5] [6] [7]
  9. 1 2 "As Amritpal Singh's followers run amok, a brief history of the Khalistan movement". The Indian Express. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. Openly pushing the separatist idea of Khalistan, Amritpal challenges the theory of nationalism, and draws parallels between the idea of Sikh sovereignty and Hindu Rashtra. He even dresses like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, calling him his "inspiration".
  10. 1 2 Vasudeva, Vikas (23 February 2023). "Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh's supporters attack police in Punjab's Ajnala". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. Armed with swords, guns and sharp weapons, scores of supporters of the self-styled Sikh preacher and pro-Khalistan (sovereign state for Sikhs) propagator Amritpal Singh on Thursday indulged in a scuffle with Punjab police personnel, injuring a few in Amritsar's Ajnala.
  11. ↑ [9] [10] [2] [6]
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Matharu, Sonal (25 October 2022). "Fiery orator, 'Bhindranwale 2.0' — who's Amritpal Singh, new 'head' of Deep Sidhu's Waris Punjab De". The Print. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  13. ↑ [10] [2] [1] [12]
  14. ↑ "Amritsar unrest: Who are 'Waris Punjab De' Lovepreet Toofan and Amritpal Singh?". Livemint. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023. Bhai Amritpal Singh Sandhu, who was born on 17 January 1993, is the second leader of the Punjabi-centric social organisation, Waris Panjab De.
  15. ↑ "Jailed Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh wins from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat". Firstpost. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  16. ↑ "Jailed Khalistani Leader Amritpal Singh Wins Khadoor Sahib, Sarabjeet Khalsa Leading in Faridkot". News18. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  17. ↑ Manraj Grewal Sharma, Behind Amritpal rise, deepening political vacuum, widening governance gaps, growing discontent Archived 22 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 5 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "'Amritpal Justifies Demand of Sikh Nation Against the Backdrop of Demand for a Hindu Nation'". The Wire. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "Jailed Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh wins Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat". India Today. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  20. 1 2 Mukesh Ranjan (20 March 2023), "MHA mulls ban on Amritpal Singh's outfit 'Waris Punjab De' under UAPA", The Trbune (India), archived from the original on 28 March 2023, retrieved 29 March 2023
  21. 1 2 PTI, Pak's spy agency ISI behind pushing Amritpal Singh back to India Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , The Telegraph (Kolkata), 19 March 2023.
  22. ↑ [20] [21] [22]
  23. 1 2 Deeptiman Tiwary, Mahender Singh Manral, Ahead of crackdown, the worry for Centre: Amritpal’s campaign, his private army Archived 22 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 20 March 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Amritpal Singh promoted gun culture in Punjab, had links with drug dealers, say officials". The Hindu. 23 March 2023. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Amritpal Singh was raising own army, 'human bomb squads': 10 points". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  26. ↑ "Amritpal Singh was targeting rogue ex-servicemen, youngsters to build terrorist outfit". Deccan Herald. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  27. ↑ Livemint (19 March 2023). "Alert issued in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand". mint. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "Amritpal Singh used rehab centres to recruit 'human bombs': Report". India Today. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "Amritpal Singh manhunt: Waris Punjab De chief used gurdwara to store weapons : Report". PTC News. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  30. ↑ "AKF members were assigned belt numbers, Khalistan insignia, currency recovered from Amritpal's gunman: Punjab Police". The Indian Express. 24 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  31. ↑ [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]
  32. ↑ "Amritpal Singh remains elusive for second day, 10 more arrested in Jalandar | Live Updates". India Today . Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  33. ↑ "Amritpal Singh's financier held as police continue to search for him". The Indian Express. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  34. 1 2 3 "Amritpal on the run as Punjab police launch crackdown against Khalistan sympathiser, his supporters". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  35. ↑ [33] [34] [35]
  36. 1 2 "'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh arrested from Punjab's Moga in joint operation; sent to Assam's Dibrugarh jail". TheHindu. 23 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  37. 1 2 Mogul, Rhea (22 March 2023). "Khalistan: The outlawed Sikh separatist movement that has Indian authorities on edge". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Preacher, 'influencer', ideologue: Meet Amritpal Singh, head of Waris Punjab De". The Indian Express. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  39. ↑ Manraj Grewal Sharma, In Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh’s Punjab village, mother says doing ‘amrit sanchar’ but sense of disquiet over cause Archived 24 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 27 February 2023.
  40. 1 2 Goyal, Divya (30 September 2022). "Khalistan on lips, Bhindranwale follower takes charge of Deep Sidhu's outfit, actor's kin say no link". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  41. ↑ Deepkamal Kaur, ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh a polytechnic dropout Archived 25 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , The Tribune (India), 25 February 2023.
  42. 1 2 Zoya Mateen, Arvind Chhabra, Amritpal Singh: The self-styled preacher raising fears in India's Punjab Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , BBC News, 28 February 2023.
  43. 1 2 3 Deeptiman Tiwary, Mahenda Singh Manral, Amritpal Singh on security radar, Central agencies prepare a dossier Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 25 February 2023.
  44. ↑ Amritpal Singh’s associates detained: Who is this radical Sikh ‘preacher’, what does he do Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 19 March 2023.
  45. 1 2 3 4 Jupinderjit Singh, The rise and fall of Amritpal Singh Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , The Tribune (India), 20 March 2023.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Tur, Jatinder Kaur (1 March 2023). "Amritpal's sudden rise follows a script from Punjab's past". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  47. ↑ Amritpal Singh’s ‘predecessor’, who was Waris Punjab De founder Deep Sidhu? Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 24 February 2023. ProQuest   2779382036
  48. 1 2 Divya Goyal, Waris Punjab De: What is the mission of this outfit, floated by Deep Sidhu and now led by Amritpal Singh? Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 25 February 2023.
  49. ↑ Terry Milewsky, Khalistan: A Project of Pakistan Archived 23 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Macdonald-Laurier Institute, 2020.
  50. 1 2 Varinder Bhatia, Avtar Singh Khanda, who targeted Indian mission in UK, ‘groomed’ Amritpal Archived 24 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 22 March 2023.
  51. ↑ Anil Sharma, ISYF chief Lakhbir Singh Rode among 9 booked for smuggling drugs, explosives from across border Archived 24 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Hindustan Times, 21 February 2023.
  52. ↑ Varinder Bhatia, Crackdown on Waris Punjab De: Probe looks at deposits of Rs 40 cr, some in name of farm protest victims’ relatives Archived 24 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Indian Express, 22 March 2023.
  53. ↑ "Deep Sidhu, actor-activist accused in Red Fort violence, dies in car crash". The Indian Express. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  54. ↑ Unaware how Amritpal Singh declared himself head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, says Deep Sidhu’s kin Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , Financial Express, 24 February 2023.
  55. ↑ Singh, Jupinderjit. "'Deep Sidhu disliked Amritpal Singh, blocked his phone'". The Tribune (India). Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  56. ↑ Vivek Gupta (11 February 2023). "What Explains Amritpal Singh's Mystifying Rise as the New Poster Boy of Radical Sikh Politics?". The Wire. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  57. ↑ Jaskaran Singh (31 October 2022). "Haryana: HSGMC president praises Amritpal Singh for motivating youth to get initiated at Akal Takht". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  58. ↑ "Amritpal Singh: Amrit Sanchar to focus on 'de-addiction' of youth". The Tribune (India). 30 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  59. ↑ "'Khalsa Vehir' march from Akal Takht to Kesgarh Sahib begin". The Tribune (India). 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  60. ↑ "A radical preacher", The Hindu, 26 February 2023, ProQuest   2779819982, archived from the original on 31 March 2023, retrieved 31 March 2023
  61. ↑ Manoj Gupta (28 December 2022). "'Weapon Marches', Youth for Khalistan Cause: Here's All About Khalsa Waheer Campaign Held by Waris Punjab De Leader Amritpal". News18. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  62. 1 2 Suresh, Nidhi (22 March 2023). "Why is India's Khalistan separatist movement on the rise?". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  63. ↑ HT Correspondent (22 February 2022). "Over 3 million people in Punjab consume drugs: PGIMER study". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  64. ↑ "Exposed: Amritpal Singh's deceptive de-addiction campaign in Punjab". India Today. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  65. ↑ "Khalistani Sympathiser And MP Amritpal Singh's Brother Arrested In Drug Case". Times Now. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  66. ↑ "Christians demand arrest of Sikh activist Amritpal Singh, lodge protest at Jalandhar's PAP Chowk". The Tribune (India). Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  67. ↑ "Members of Christian community hold four-hour protest in Jalandhar". Hindustan Times. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  68. ↑ "Christians protest against Sikh 'preacher' Amritpal Singh for 'hurting religious sentiments', urge govt to book him". The Indian Express. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  69. ↑ "Remain vigilant: MHA to Punjab Government on Amritpal Singh issue". The Tribune (India). 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  70. ↑ "Punjab: After clash with police, Amritpal's Instagram account suspended again". Hindustan Times. 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  71. ↑ "Amritpal Singh's Instagram account suspended". The Economic Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  72. 1 2 "'Khalistan shouldn't be seen as…': Amritpal Singh as Lovepreet Singh set to be released today". Hindustan Times. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  73. 1 2 "Punjab's Amritpal Singh aka 'Bhindranwale 2.0': Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  74. ↑ "Amritpal Singh, the new face of fundamentalist fringe". Hindustan Times. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023. Amritpal has invoked the teachings of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale --- who was killed on June 6, 1984 --- during Operation Bluestar, with renewed calls for the freedom of Punjab and the creation of Khalistan. He styles his turban, wears traditional robes and other Sikh articles just like the slain militant preacher.
  75. ↑ "Khalistan sentiment will remain, you cannot suppress it, says separatist leader Amritpal Singh". India Today. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  76. ↑ "'Bhindranwale 2.0': Radical Khalistan Sympathiser Amritpal Singh Active In Punjab". NDTV News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023. Often escorted by armed supporters and donning a flowing white 'chola' and a navy-blue turban, radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh has been very active for some time in Punjab.
  77. ↑ Patel, Shivam (31 May 2024). "Sikh separatist contests India election from jail, a worry for government". Reuters.
  78. ↑ "Lok Sabha election results: 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh wins from Khadoor Sahib seat by 1.97 lakh votes". Tribune India. 4 June 2024.
  79. ↑ "After stunning Lok Sabha win, Amritpal Singh's lawyer's 'no alternative' warning". Hindustan Times. 6 June 2024.
  80. ↑ "General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies - Trends & Results June-2024 Parliamentary Constituency 3 - Khadoor Sahib (Punjab)". Election Commission of India.
  81. ↑ The Economic Times (6 June 2024). "Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls". Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  82. ↑ "All necessary steps being taken to ensure Amritpal Singh's release, says his lawyer". The Economics Times (India). 11 June 2024.
  83. ↑ "'Sikh preacher' Amritpal Singh briefly put under house arrest". The Indian Express. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  84. ↑ "Day after house arrest, Sikh 'preacher' Amritpal allowed to leave for Haryana". The Indian Express. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  85. ↑ "Members of 'Waris Punjab De' burn chairs, sofas at Jalandhar gurdwara". Indian Express. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  86. ↑ "Supporters of Amritpal create ruckus at gurdwara". The Tribune. 10 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  87. ↑ "Self-styled preacher and pro-Khalistani booked for theft by Punjab Police". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  88. ↑ Vasudeva, Vikas (23 February 2023). "Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh's supporters attack police in Punjab's Ajnala". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  89. ↑ "Radical Preacher's Aide Lovepreet Singh Released From Amritsar Jail". NDTV News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  90. ↑ "Preacher Amritpal Singh's aide Lovepreet released from Amritsar jail". The Telegraph (Kolkata). 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  91. ↑ "Amritsar Rampage: Punjab Police Cites Guru Granth Sahib Reason For Not Retaliating". Outlookindia.com. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  92. ↑ "India arrests more than 100 people in manhunt for Sikh separatist". Al Jazeera. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  93. 1 2 Mogul, Rhea (20 March 2023). "India cuts internet to 27 million as Punjab police hunt Sikh separatist". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  94. 1 2 Dhar, Aniruddha (19 March 2023). "'Drugs in every Punjab home': Father defends Amritpal Singh amid police crackdown". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  95. ↑ "Amritpal Singh: Punjab police step up search for Sikh separatist preacher". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  96. ↑ "Punjab Police trace bike on which Amritpal Singh fled". The Tribune (India). 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  97. ↑ "A change of clothes and...: How Amritpal Singh has evaded Punjab Police so far". Hindustan Times. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  98. ↑ Amritpal Singh's uncle Harjit Singh, driver 'forcefully' stayed at sarpanch's house, booked in Punjab Archived 22 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine , The Times of India, 23 March 2023. ProQuest   2789309656
  99. ↑ Mogul, Rhea (22 March 2023). "Khalistan: The outlawed Sikh separatist movement that has Indian authorities on edge". CNN News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023. A plea has been filed by Waris Punjab De in Punjab's High Court, alleging Singh has been illegally detained by the police.
  100. ↑ "'You have 80,000 cops...': Court slams Punjab govt amid hunt for Amritpal Singh". Hindustan Times. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  101. ↑ "Close to catching Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt to high court". Mint. PTI. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  102. 1 2 Pundir, Pallavi (22 March 2023). "India Cuts Off Internet to 27 Million People to Catch One Man". VICE News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  103. ↑ "Manhunt for fugitive Sikh separatist puts India's Punjab on edge". Financial Times. 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  104. ↑ "Manhunt for fugitive Sikh separatist puts India's Punjab on edge". Financial Times. 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  105. ↑ "Punjab further extends suspension of internet services in state till march 21 noon". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  106. ↑ Deep, Aroon (21 March 2023). "Mobile internet restored in most parts of Punjab". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  107. ↑ Jain, Alka (21 March 2023). "Punjab suspends internet services till March 23 for Amritpal Singh manhunt". Mint. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  108. ↑ "Crackdown on Amritpal: Section 144 imposed in Chandigarh, carrying of weapons prohibited". The Tribune (India). 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  109. ↑ "What to Know About the Massive Political Manhunt in India". Time. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  110. ↑ Vasudeva, Ravinder. "Amritpal calls for Sikh conclave from hideout". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  111. ↑ PTI (18 March 2023). "Amritpal Singh maintaining close links with ISI, terror groups: Sources". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  112. ↑ "Amritpal Singh | Pakistan And ISI Link Emerges". News18. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  113. ↑ "Pak's spy agency ISI behind pushing Amritpal Singh back to India". The Telegraph (Kolkata). Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  114. ↑ "India: Police crackdown against separatist in Punjab, arrest warrant issued against Amritpal Singh". WION. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  115. ↑ [112] [113] [114] [115]
  116. ↑ "Amritpal Singh trained by ISI in Georgia, linked to SFJ: Intel". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  117. ↑ "Punjab Police finds videos of Amritpal Singh's outfit 'AKF', 'Khalistani flag' pics. Who is Tajinder Gill?". Hindustan Times. 24 March 2023. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  118. ↑ "Crackdown on Waris Punjab De: Probe looks at deposits of Rs 40 cr, some in name of farm protest victims' relatives". The Indian Express. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  119. ↑ Aniruddha Dhar. "Amritpal Singh was raising own army, 'human bomb squads': 10 points". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  120. ↑ "Amritpal Singh manhunt: Khalistani leader brainwashed youth to become 'human bombs' for suicide attacks". DNA India. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  121. ↑ Kulkarni, Abhimanyu (19 March 2023). ""Punjab Has Had Enough": Sikh Body's Warning As Cops Look For Separatist". NDTV News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  122. ↑ Menon, Aditya (20 March 2023). "Amritpal Singh Crackdown: Several Sikh Twitter Accounts Withheld on Govt Orders". The Quint. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  123. ↑ "Amid police hunt for Amritpal, SGPC chief: 'stop arresting innocent Sikh youths'". The Indian Express. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  124. ↑ Kumar, Akhil (21 March 2023). ""Conspiracy Theories": Akali Dal Breaks Silence On Amritpal Singh Chase". NDTV News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  125. ↑ "'Bhagwant Mann Govt Not Afraid Of...': Arvind Kejriwal's Big Praise Amid Amritpal Singh Crackdown". Zee News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  126. ↑ "Crackdown on Amritpal: 36 hours on, Sikh protesters keep chokehold on Sohana Chowk". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  127. ↑ "Watch: Sikhs attack Indian consulate in San Francisco, raise Khalistani flag to protest against crackdown on Amritpal Singh". Free Press Journal. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  128. ↑ Simon Little; Julie Nolin. "Journalist allegedly assaulted as Punjab tensions spill over into B.C." Global News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  129. ↑ "Indian High Commission: Diplomat summoned after London protest". BBC News. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  130. 1 2 "Amritpal Singh's brother-in-law key accused in attack on Indian high commission in Canada". Hindustan Times. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  131. ↑ "Pro-Khalistan protesters tried to set on fire India's consulate in San Francisco". The Tribune India.
  132. ↑ "The K-factor abroad fuels anti-India offensive". 11 July 2023.
  133. ↑ "Senior Indian journalist attacked by pro-Khalistanis outside Indian Embassy in Washington". Deccan Herald. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  134. ↑ "Journalist allegedly assaulted as Punjab tensions spill over into B.C. | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  135. ↑ "'Mr Taranjit Singh Sandhu…': Khalistan supporter threatens Indian envoy to US | Watch". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  136. ↑ Bhatia, Ripu (21 March 2023). "Sikh community holds protest in Auckland for separatist preacher". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  137. ↑ Kaur, Amneet (20 March 2023). "UK Sikhs call national protest over Punjab Internet blackout". Birmingham Live. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  138. ↑ "Abandon search, hand over Amritpal Singh, say Sikh bodies". The Times of India. 21 March 2023. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  139. 1 2 Singh, Manavpreet (22 March 2023). "Fort St. John Sikhs holding protest against human rights issues in India". Energeticcity.ca. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  140. ↑ "UK Sikh MP's tweet on arrests of Amritpal's aides draws ire: 'won't fetch you…'". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  141. ↑ "Sikh MPs in Canada, UK tweet in unison as police crack down on Amritpal Singh in Punjab". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  142. ↑ "Canadian MPs voicing concern over Punjab internet crackdown receive 'harsh' responses - National". Global News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  143. ↑ "Waris Punjab De head Amritpal to tie knot with NRI girl today". The Indian Express. 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  144. ↑ "Village of Amritpal's in-laws in shock; residents say he should have surrendered". The Indian Express. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  145. ↑ "'Waris Punjab De' head Amritpal Singh marries London girl in a simple ceremony". The Indian Express. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  146. ↑ "Amritpal's wife is a UK-based NRI; here is why Kirandeep Kaur is on Punjab Police radar". The Tribune. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.