Amritpal Singh and Aides Pose Threat to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police Tells HC
Sikh radical leader and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and his associates pose a significant threat to the life of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This information was revealed in a reply submitted by the Punjab Police to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The response was filed in connection to the petitions challenging the extension of Amritpal Singh and his aides’ detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
The petition, brought by Amritpal Singh and his associates—Sarabjit Singh Kalsi, Gurmeet Gill and others—argues that the extension of their detention under the NSA is unconstitutional and politically motivated.
Threat to CM Bhagwant Mann’s Life
Punjab Police have reportedly claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s life is in danger, referencing a video recorded by Amritpal Singh after the 2023 attack on Ajnala Police Station. In the video, Amritpal Singh allegedly compared Mann to former Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber, Dilawar Singh, on August 31, 1995, in Chandigarh. The police assert that the radical leader’s comments suggest Mann could face similar consequences.
The police, in a reply filed by Amritsar Rural SSP Charanjit Singh, have also claimed that despite being held in Assam’s Dibrugarh Jail, Amritpal Singh has maintained contacts with separatists and his provocative speeches are seen as capable of misleading vulnerable youth, further threatening Punjab’s law and order.
The Legal Challenge
In the 172-page response, the Punjab Police defended the extension of Amritpal Singh’s detention under the NSA, emphasizing that his activities pose a threat to peace and stability in Punjab. The petitioners argue that they have been unjustly detained, claiming no concrete case has been made against them and that their liberty has been violated in an “unusual and cruel manner” by holding them far from Punjab.
The Punjab Government, however, maintains that Amritpal Singh’s continued detention is essential for the state’s security, particularly given his alleged contacts with separatist elements even while in custody. The police also argued that the release of Amritpal Singh and his associates would be a direct threat not only to law and order in Punjab but also to the safety of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Case Adjourned
The case is scheduled to be heard again on October 3, 2024. Both the Central and State Governments have been directed to provide complete records regarding the extension of the NSA against the petitioners.
The legal and political ramifications of this case continue to unfold as both sides present their arguments in court, with the Punjab Police and government insisting on the necessity of the detentions to preserve the state’s security.
