Amritpal Singh was living in Dubai helping out with his uncle’s transport business till February 2022. With a short moustache and trimmed hair, the look he sported was far away from that of an orthodox practising Sikh.
But at present Amritpal Singh is a self-proclaimed Khalistani leader sporting a long beard and hair wrapped in a saffron turban, characteristics usually associated with a practicing Sikh. He is also the ‘Jathedar’ of Waris Punjab De and now the pro-Khalistan preacher declared a fugitive by Punjab Police.
The transformation happened when Amritpal Singh returned from Punjab to Dubai in August last year, what stokes one’s curiosity is how the driver-turned-Khalistani leader became so popular in Punjab in a little over six months, from where did he get the money to procure luxury cars and a barrage of weapons for himself and his cohort and how did he rise to fame so quickly.
Sources in the intelligence said Pakistan’s secret intelligence service ISI sent Amritpal Singh to Punjab to disrupt the law and order situation of the country and accused the Khalistani leader of brainwashing youths.
Here’s taking a look at all those who have helped Amritpal Singh spearheading the Khalistani movement in India.
KIRANDEEP KAUR
On February 10, Amritpal Singh married Kirandeep Kaur, an NRI living in Britain. According to sources, the police interrogated Kirandeep Kaur in connection with the alleged funding that Amritpal received from foreign sources. Police suspect that Kirandeep was aware of the funds that the self-proclaimed Khalistani leader was receiving from abroad.
DALJEET SINGH KALSI
A resident of Amritsar, Daljeet Singh Kalsi was Amritpal Singh’s financier. Police investigation revealed that he was a link between Pakistan’s secret intelligence agency ISI and Amritpal Singh. It has been alleged that Kalsi was in touch with the officers posted in the Consulate General of many countries in Pakistan. During the investigation, police found that in the last two years, he had collected around Rs 35 crore from foreign sources. He spent a large part of this amount on Amritpal and Waris Punjab De. Currently, Kalsi is in the custody of the police and is being questioned.
PAPPALPREET SINGH
Considered to be Amritpal Singh’s main handler, it is alleged that the Khalistani leader counts on Pappalpreet Singh’s opinion in a lot of matters and that it was he who facilitated Amritpal’s escape. It is alleged that Pappalpreet Singh was in direct contact with and taking instructions from the ISI to create an atmosphere of tension in Punjab and press the demand for Khalistan in India
BHAGWANT SINGH
Considered to be the right hand of Amritpal Singh, Bhagwant Singh worked as a media coordinator and engaged in social media marketing for Amritpal Singh and his supporters. When the police came to arrest him after Amritpal Singh fled, Bhagwant Singh, who projects himself as a social media influencer, went live on Facebook and instigated people. The police have blocked his Instagram and YouTube channels.
GURMEET SINGH BUKKANWALA
After Amritpal Singh gave the police the slip, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala was among the five people first arrested. As per local reports, Gurmeet Singh helped build the local support for Amritpal Singh in Punjab and made all arrangements for his escape.
TOOFAN SINGH
A resident of Gurdaspur in Punjab, Toofan Singh is a close aide of Amritpal Singh and an active member of Waris Punjab De.
HARJEET SINGH
Harjeet Singh is Amritpal Singh’s uncle and a strong supporter of the Khalistani movement. It has been alleged that Harjeet Singh facilitated Amritpal Singh’s escape. The car in which Amritpal Singh was fleeing belonged to Harjeet Singh. Later, Harjeet Singh surrendered before the police. As per reports, Harjeet Singh went to Dubai where he started a transport business and later shifted base to Canada. Amritpal used to work with his uncle in Dubai. Harjeet Singh returned to India last month. It is being suspected that Harjeet Singh was fully aware of the conspiracy to send Amritpal Singh from Dubai to Punjab and was also a part of the plot.
