Indian media sources report that Amritpal Singh has been moved to a prison in Assam under high-security measures.
Amritpal Singh, a Sikh separatist, was recently arrested in Punjab’s Moga district in India, sparking renewed discussions surrounding an independent Sikh homeland and raising concerns about potential renewed violence similar to the Sikh insurgency in the 1980s and early 1990s. Singh is a preacher in Punjab, a state with a predominantly Sikh population.
As the leader of a group called Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab), Singh, 30, has been on the run from police since mid-March. He and his followers face charges of attempted murder, obstruction of justice, and inciting discord. His arrest came after he and hundreds of his supporters armed with swords and firearms attacked a police station to free one of his associates.
Read: Arrest of Sikh Separatist Amritpal Singh Raises Concerns of Punjab Unrest
Due to the high-profile nature of the case and the potential for jailbreaks or protests, the central government ordered that Singh be transferred to prison over 2,600 kilometers away in Assam. The decision aims to minimize the risk of unrest if Singh were to be held in Punjab or Haryana.
Singh was detained in a village gurudwara, a Sikh temple, under the provisions of the National Security Act. This legislation allows individuals considered a threat to national security to be held without charge for up to one year. With Singh now in custody, Indian authorities must remain vigilant to prevent any potential resurgence of violence or unrest related to Sikh separatist sentiments.
