Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan independent MP from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib, will remain in custody for another year as the Punjab government has extended his arrest under the National Security Act (NSA).
Initially, the NSA was imposed for two years and was to expire on April 23. With this extension, Amritpal Singh will now remain in jail till April 2026.
Amritpal has been lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam for the last two years. With this extension, his total detention period under NSA has now become three years. It is expected that he will remain in Dibrugarh jail for the next one year as well.
It is noteworthy that Amritpal Singh contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate and won from the Khadoor Sahib constituency.
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Government Changed Its Decision at the Last Moment
A team of Punjab Police was all set to bring Amritpal Singh back to Punjab from Assam. But at the last moment, the security agencies of the state and central government deliberated and decided to extend Amritpal’s custody for another year under the National Security Act (NSA).
The state home department has approved this extension after the recommendation of the District Magistrate of Amritsar. Apart from NSA, Amritpal Singh is also charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Several of Amritpal Singh’s Aides Released
Earlier this month, nine of Amritpal’s associates were brought back to Punjab after the government decided not to extend their detention period under the NSA. They are now in the custody of the Punjab Police.
What’s the Case About?
Amritpal Singh was arrested on April 23, 2023 from Rode village in Moga after a manhunt that lasted over a month. The crackdown on Amritpal and his associates began after a violent attack on the Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, 2023.
Thousands of his supporters armed with swords and guns stormed the police station and demanded the release of his close aide Lovepreet Singh aka Toofan, who was detained in a kidnapping case. The mob broke police barricades, clashed with officers and successfully secured Toofan’s release.
Following this, on 18 March 2023, the Punjab Police launched a major operation against Amritpal. He evaded arrest for over a month, following which a high-profile search operation was launched during which mobile internet services were shut down across Punjab.
As the investigation progressed, the National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against Amritpal and several of his associates. On March 20 and 21, five of his associates were detained under the NSA and transferred to Dibrugarh Central Jail.
Amritpal was finally arrested from a gurdwara in Rode village in Moga on April 23. The NSA warrant issued in March was executed and he was sent to Dibrugarh jail.
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