GUWAHATI: Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh has decided to throw his hat into the political ring by contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat from Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
His counsel, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, revealed on Wednesday that he met with Amritpal in the high-security jail and persuaded him to run in the upcoming elections.
“I requested bhai sahab that in the interests of ‘Khalsa Panth’, he should fight elections this time from Khadoor Sahib to become a member of parliament. Bhai sahab accepted my request… He will fight as an independent candidate,” Khalsa stated, as reported by a national news agency.
Currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), Amritpal Singh, the chief of pro-Khalistani outfit Waris Punjab De, was recently embroiled in a controversy following the discovery of a communication network within Dibrugarh jail, allegedly masterminded by him.
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The revelation led to the arrest of Dibrugarh Central Jail superintendent Nipen Das in March, highlighting concerns about illicit activities within the prison premises.
Unauthorised devices, including smartphones and spy-cam pens, were also seized during subsequent searches of inmates’ cells by the police.
Singh is accused of organising unauthorised activities and having connections with outside groups.
Indian intelligence sources say he’s linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and may have helped arm a private militia called Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF).
Arrested by the Punjab Police on April 23, 2023, under the NSA, Singh has remained in the high-security confines of Dibrugarh Central Jail since then.
Amritpal and nine other members of the separatist group were arrested under the National Security Act following an alleged intrusion into the Ajnala police station complex in Punjab, on February 23, 2023. Currently, nine including Amritpal, are in Assam jail, awaiting legal proceedings.
