CHANDIGARH, April 14 : The Punjab government has formally moved the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), requesting that Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh remain incarcerated at the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. Citing grave concerns over the potential deterioration of law and order within the state, the Punjab government has expressed its preference to keep the radical leader outside state borders even after his current detention period ends.
According to official sources, the state home department’s recommendation is based on detailed reports submitted by the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Amritsar (Rural). The intelligence agencies have raised red flags, suggesting that Amritpal’s physical presence in Punjab could trigger a significant security challenge. The state has invoked provisions of the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1952, along with the Punjab Amendment Act 2025, to seek a legal extension for his stay in Assam, subject to the concurrence of the Assam government and the union Home Secretary.
Amritpal Singh, the head of ‘Waris Punjab De,’ was initially detained on April 23, 2023, following a month-long manhunt that began after he and his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station on February 24, 2023. Since his arrest, he has been held under the National Security Act (NSA) at the high-security Dibrugarh facility. While his detention has been extended multiple times over the last three years, the current term is set to expire on April 22, 2026.
The state government’s letter emphasizes the need for a swift decision by the Centre to prevent any legal vacuum when the NSA term ends on April 23. While nine of Amritpal’s associates previously detained under the NSA have already been shifted back to Punjab, the state administration maintains that Amritpal’s case must be handled differently due to his influence and the nature of the charges against him. Sources indicate that while he could be re-arrested under fresh charges upon the expiry of the NSA, the primary objective remains ensuring he is not brought back to a Punjab prison in the immediate future to maintain communal harmony and regional stability.
(UNI)
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