Memories of Punjab separatism and the rise of Amritpal

GBDESK//

When Sikh separatist preacher Amritpal Singh was finally apprehended outside a Guruwara in Rode village in north Indian state Punjab’s Moga district this morning, the contrived symbolism of the place could not be lost sight of.

It was that Rode where Amritpal, on his return from Dubai, was anointed the head of religious outfit Waris Punjab De (Inheritors of Punjab).

Rode is the native village of slain Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Hailing from Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, Amritpal moved around with armed men like Bhindranwale and some of his supporters even call him “Bhindranwale 2.0”.

Amritpal was anointed as the head of Waris Punjab De following the death of its founder Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.

It is alleged that Deep had close links with Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and some terrorist groups based abroad.

Deep was arrested for his involvement in violence and hosting of religious flag at the Red Fort in Delhi in February 2021 when he sided with the farmers from Punjab and Haryana at the height of year-long agitation outside Delhi.

According to police records, Amritpal has been involved in several incidents of kidnappings and holding out threats.

When 30-year-old Amritpal led a mob in storming a police station in Ajnala village in Amritsar district to secure the release of jailed separatists, the incident and the man behind it had reignited memories of the dark days of militancy in Punjab in 1980s.