Feb 26, 2023
By: IP SinghThe recent attack on a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar, India, has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of Amritpal Singh, a prominent advocate for the Khalistan movement.
Amritpal and his armed supporters had barged inside Ajnala police station using sticks and swords as his associate Lovepreet Singh Toofan had been arrested for allegedly abducting and assaulting a person who was strongly critical of Amritpal.
Lovepreet walked free on Friday and Amritpal said he stood vindicated as his associate was wrongly implicated.
Born in Amritsar’s Jallupur Khera village in 1993, Amritpal studied up to class 12, and in 2012 left India to work with his uncle’s transport company in Dubai.
Amritpal came to the notice of Punjab’s politicians and police only six months ago when he was anointed the head of Waris Punjab De, an organisation founded by actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu.
On September 25, 2022, Amritpal went through a formal Sikh baptism at Anandpur Sahib to become an ‘Amritdhari Sikh’.
Amritpal’s transformation from a clean-shaven transporter in Dubai to a separatist Sikh leader with a flowing beard has been swift. He dresses like Bhindranwale and some are already calling him Bhindranwale 2.
He has been espousing the cause of Khalistan on his Facebook timeline for quite some time.
Unlike Bhindranwale, Amritpal did not attend a Sikh seminary and came into religious preaching after mainly expressing himself on political issues.
His lack of training shows up when he speaks on theological issues. Yet, the masses flock to him for his ‘clear and courageous’ political views.
Amritpal had backed Deep Sidhu when others vilified him for the Red Fort protests on Republic Day of 2021 during the farmers’ agitation, and it is Sidhu’s large following that has propelled his recent rise.
Amritpal had said he was drawn to Sikh activism after the Bargari and Behbal Kalan incidents. His strong stance, including on Christian pastors, has also added to his popularity among Sikhs.
With his growing clout, Amritpal has acquired the trappings of power.
Armed supporters guard him round the clock. His words are lapped up on social media.
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