The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a series of coordinated raids targeting the properties of relatives and aides of Amritpal Singh, a Member of Parliament and prominent Sikh radical currently detained in Dibrugarh Jail under the National Security Act.
These raids are part of a broader investigation into an alleged terrorist and gangster network.
Insights
The NIA’s operation focused on several locations in Amritsar, including the residence and workshop of Singh’s uncle, Pragat Singh Sandhu, as well as his brother-in-law Amanjot Singh’s home.
Amanjot Singh, who resides in Canada, has been linked to the investigation.
Additionally, authorities conducted raids across Moga, Gurdaspur, and Jalandhar districts.
These actions relate to the 2023 pro-Khalistan demonstrations outside the High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada, and the attack on the Indian High Commission in London.
Charanjit Singh Bhinder, an associate of Amritpal Singh, denounced the raids as intimidation tactics aimed at harassing the MP’s supporters.
Amritpal Singh, 31, is currently in prison in Assam following his arrest in April 2023. Authorities apprehended Singh, who won the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary seat, after a 36-day manhunt across several states.
Before his arrest, Singh had been relatively unknown until his return from Dubai in September 2022. He had previously managed his family’s transport business there.
Singh’s prominence rose after he assumed leadership of ‘Waris Punjab De,’ a movement originally founded by Deep Sidhu, a lawyer and activist.
Sidhu, who faced accusations in the January 26, 2021, Red Fort violence case, died in a road accident in February 2022.
Singh officially took charge as the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’ during a ‘dastar bandi’ ceremony in Rode village in September 2022.
Despite his high-profile role, Singh’s background differs from his predecessors; he lacked formal religious education, dropped out of a polytechnic, and had previously shaved his beard and cut his hair while in Dubai.
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