A “very serious” development has been flagged by the central security agencies regarding the activities of “Waris Punjab De” head Amritpal Singh. Lovepreet Singh Toofan’s aide, Lovepreet Singh, was held hostage at a police station in Ajnala to free him.
We are investigating who is funding him and how. According to a source, Amritpal receives ideological support from radical elements in the UK and Canada, as well as small pockets in Europe.
Many automatic weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, carried by Amritpal’s supporters are being investigated for their origins. He is being examined even for his social media campaigns and the way his followers operate.
According to sources, Amritpal’s supporters took a “saroop” of Guru Granth Sahib to the Ajnala police station, demonstrating sharp presence of mind. Protesters stood behind the “saroop” could not have been “attacked” by the Punjab Police. It is likely that Amritpal and his armed supporters would have reacted more violently if the Guru Granth Sahib had been insulted. There is a border crossing between India and Pakistan just 15 km away from Ajnala.
In particular, Amritpal has openly advocated a separate homeland for the Sikhs. It’s almost like what Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale did in the early 1980s. As of now, Amritpal does not enjoy the cult following enjoyed by Bhindranwale, according to an official.
The sudden emergence of Amritpal is cause for concern and adds fuel to the fire that has been dormant since 1996, roughly a year after Chief Minister Beant Singh was assassinated at the Secretariat Complex in Chandigarh.
The central agencies have traced Amritpal’s life journey since he left Punjab as a clean-shaven youth to earn a living in the UAE. Before returning to India, Amritpal got baptized and found his new thoughts.
As recently as last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that the Centre would counter the rise of radicalism.
The National Investigation Agency is also investigating gangster-terrorist cases. By using gangsters, Pakistan’s ISI is trying to revive Khalistan movement in Punjab.
“The Punjab Police should be closely coordinating with the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing, and the National Technical Research Organization,” said a senior official.
Operation Black Thunder, conducted in two phases (April 1986 and May 1988), was coordinated smoothly from the mid-1980s until the militancy was curbed in the mid-1990s, according to the official. After Beant Singh’s government was formed in 1992, Operation Rakshak was conducted in two phases.
Not only were IPS officers involved in these operations, but also in day-to-day operations. There were many awards for gallantry given to them.
