The Punjab Police will bring back seven associates of jailed MP and radical preacher Amritpal Singh from Assam's Dibrugarh jail, as the state government has decided not to extend their detention under the National Security Act, PTI reported.
The seven individuals will face legal action over their involvement in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack, the officer added. With their detention period set to expire, the government has chosen not to extend their time under the NSA.
Amritpal Singh, the chief of the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, and his nine associates have been in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the NSA for the past two years. He had fought the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as an independent and won from the Khadoor Sahib seat.
Amritpal Singh's associates who will be brought back to Punjab are Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh Bajekhana, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwal, Daljit Singh Kalsi, Gurinderpal Singh Guri Aujla, Harjit Singh and Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Border Range Amritsar) Satinder Singh said police will take the investigation forward in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack incident.
He said that 10 persons, who had been detained under the NSA, have not been formally arrested yet in the Ajnala police station attack incident.
"We are taking the investigation in the matter forward. We will arrest the seven persons in the FIR number 39 and bring them back to Punjab," the DIG told reporters in Amritsar.
"We will bring them here in that case and take forward the investigation," he further said.
Replying to a question on Amritpal Singh, the DIG refused to make any comment. Action against them will be taken as per law, he said, adding the NSA detention period against these persons is expiring.
Last year, the detention of Amritpal Singh and his nine associates under the National Security Act (NSA) was extended by another year.
Amritpal Singh, who modeled himself after Khalistani operative Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested on April 23, 2023, in Moga's Rode village after a month-long manhunt. The Khalistan sympathizer had evaded capture in Jalandhar district on March 18, 2023, by switching vehicles and altering his appearance.
The Punjab Police initiated the crackdown following the February 23, 2023, Ajnala incident, where Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some armed with swords and guns, allegedly broke through barricades and stormed the police station on the outskirts of Amritsar. They clashed with police to demand the release of his aides.
Amritpal Singh and his associates faced charges of spreading disharmony, attempting murder, attacking police personnel, and obstructing the lawful discharge of duties by public servants.
With inputs from PTI.
