Chandigarh: The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India has suspended Internet services in Punjab on Saturday amid reports of the arrest of Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh who recently made headlines after coming back to Punjab from Dubai last year and started making speeches while being dressed like the slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
As per reports; at least six associates of Amritpal Singh who also heads Waris Punjab De were detained while his supporters shared videos of police vehicles chasing Singh's cavalcade in Punjab’s Moga district.
On February 23, an armed mob led by Singh clashed with police and laid siege to a police station near Amritsar, demanding the release of one of their colleagues who had been taken into custody in an alleged kidnapping case. Six policemen were injured in the clash.
Police officials later clarified that they were unable to control the crowd as they were carrying a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, also called Bir in Punjabi, as a shield.
"All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be suspended from 18th March (noon) to 19th March (noon) in the interest of public safety," the government said.
Amritpal Singh first started gaining traction during the farmers’ stir against the now-repealed farm laws. He was a vocal supporter of protest leader Deep Sidhu, who hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag on the Red Fort In New Delhi on Republic Day in 2021.
For the past 10 years, Singh was living in Dubai, where he had been working as a dispatcher in his family-owned transport business. He hails from the Jallupur Khera area of the Sikh Holy city in Amritsar.
When Deep Sindu (founder of Waris Punjab De) ‘died’ in a car accident in February last year, Amritpal Singh returned from Dubai and was appointed as the new head of the organization.
During the turban binding ceremony (dastarbandi) at Rode, Bhindranwale’s village, he urged the youth to become baptized Sikhs and stay in Punjab to fight for the “battle for its freedom” instead of running away abroad after clearing IELTS (The International English Language Testing System) amid slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad”.
Amritpal Singh Displaying Bhindrawale's Potrait
“We all (Punjabis) are still slaves. Those who think we are azaad (free), should consult a doctor. We have to fight for freedom. Our waters are being looted. Our Guru is being disrespected. Those who indulge in sacrilege, will not be handed over to the police or sent to courts. Ohda sodha laguga (we will punish them),” he said during the speech.
He also pledged to visit Punjab’s every village to “bring youth back to Sikhi”.
On the comparisons with Bhindranwale, Singh said, “Bhindranwale is my inspiration. I will walk the path shown by him. I want to be like him because that’s what every Sikh wants, but I am not copying him. I am not even equal to dust on his feet.”
From 1978 to 1984, Jarnail Singh Bindrawale dominated the politico-religious landscape of Punjab; he was first campaigning to stick to the traditional canons of Sikhism like keeping long unshorn beards and reciting Gurbani. His rise was very quick in rural Punjab, especially among youth. He was also the head of the DamdamiTaksal (a religious seminary where young boys have imparted knowledge of the scriptures).
Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale with his supporters
Later, the religious leader and political revolutionary campaigned for autonomy for the Sikh state of Punjab and was killed at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar by the Indian military in 1984 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.