'Wannabe Bhindranwale reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail': Amit Shah on Amritpal

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah, briefing the Rajya Sabha on Friday, highlighted how his ministry tackled extremist Amritpal Singh in Punjab, saying the "wannabe

Bhindranwale

is peacefully reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail".
"Some people tried to become Bhidranwale in Punjab...we did not have the government (in the state) but still it was home ministry's firm resolve that the man is reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail," Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha.
"We won't let danger flourish in the nation because of political ideology. We'll nip them in the bud," he added.
Amritpal Singh, the chief of "Waris Punjab De" organisation, was arrested by Punjab Police on April 23, 2023 from Rode village in Moga district. This arrest concluded a 37-day manhunt that began on March 18, 2023, when authorities initiated a crackdown against him and his supporters.

He faced several serious charges, including storming the Ajnala Police Station in February 2023, where he and his armed supporters forcibly entered the station near Amritsar, demanding the release of an aide. This incident resulted in injuries to several police personnel.
He was also charged with violations of the Arms Act after authorities seized weapons, including six 12-bore guns and 193 live cartridges, from his associates.
The National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him, allowing for his detention without formal charges for up to 12 months. Following his arrest, Singh was transferred to Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, where several of his associates were already detained under the NSA.
Intelligence reports suggested that Singh was involved in plotting against India with support from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was working to radicalise Sikh youth.
Amritpal Singh remains detained under the NSA at Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. His detention was extended by one year until April 22, 2025, due to continued involvement in activities deemed prejudicial to state security and public order.
Despite his incarceration, Singh won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by a margin of 1.97 lakh votes.