Punjab: A Day After Violence, Court Frees Radical Leader's Aide
© AP Photo / Rafiq Maqbool
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On Thursday, hundreds of followers of Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab) founder, the hardliner Amritpal Singh, clashed with the police for his aide Lovepreet Singh Toofan to be released from Amritsar prison.
An Indian court on Friday released Lovepreet Singh Toofan, the close aide of radical leader and pro-Khalistan propagator Amritpal Singh, a day after violent clashes between their followers and police were reported.
Lovepreet Singh Toofan was arrested earlier this week on several charges, including kidnapping.
On Thursday, supporters of 29-year-old Amritpal Singh scuffled with Punjab Police, injuring a few in Ajnala city. The participants brandished swords and guns during the protest.
This is not the opening sequence of RRR; this is the scene just outside Ajnala police station in Amritsar where supporters of Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh are breaking through barricades armed with swords and guns to get a kidnapper released. pic.twitter.com/UGJakOi8ix
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) February 23, 2023
Horrific scenes coming in from Ajnala! Raiding of a @PunjabPoliceInd station is an unprecedented & alarming incident. This represents a complete collapse of law & order situation. @BhagwantMann @AAPPunjab govt has failed to judge the pulse which will have terrible consequences. pic.twitter.com/bs75H76yr0
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) February 23, 2023
Who is Amritpal Singh
Amritpal Singh is a disseminator of a separatist Khalistan movement (seeking a homeland for Sikhs). Having reportedly worked at a transport company, the 29-year-old returned to India from Dubai last year after becoming head of the outfit 'Waris Punjab De' ('Heirs of Punjab') after the organization's founder, the actor-activist Deep Sidhu, died in a car crash in February last year.
Khalistan supporters seek a separate homeland within India for those who belong to the Sikh faith. The movement reached its height during the Eighties when its supporters -- two Sikh bodyguards -- assassinated Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984.
According to media reports, on Wednesday, Amritpal Singh said that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah might meet the same fate as the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
"Indira tried to suppress - what happened? Amit Shah can follow his wishes and see," Amritpal Singh said when asked about Shah's recent statement that the home ministry is keeping a close eye on Khalistan supporters in Punjab.
