Crackdown against Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh came a day before he was scheduled to resume the ‘Khalsa Vaheer’ from Muktsar on March 19 (Sunday). For the same, he had released a video message to the sangat appealing them to participate in large numbers.

According to Amritpal, the Khalsa Vaheer is meant to focus on Amrit Sanchar (one of the four Sikh Sanskaars) and to spread awareness among youngsters against drug abuse.

Amritpal had started the Khalsa Vaheer from Sikhs’ highest temporal seat — Akal Takht in Amritsar — in November last week, and was halted in Muktsar on Maghi Mela on January 14, 2023. Only days before, Amritpal — in a video message — had announced to resume the second phase of the procession stating that it would move only in districts of Malwa before concluding at Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda district’s Talwandi Sabo on Baisakhi, which falls on April 14.

Notably, as the police launched a crackdown against Waris Punjab De, the Muktsar Administration declared section 144 in the district at around 1 pm on Saturday, banning the gathering of five or more persons. Though the administrations of Muktsar, Fazilka, and Ferozepur districts clarified that section 144 was already in place in these districts, the Deputy Commissioners, however, issued fresh orders on Saturday. Flag marches were also conducted in almost all districts of Punjab on the day.

Before reaching Muktsar, Amritpal was to hold an Amrit Sanchar programme in Bathinda’s Chauke village and another in a local gurdwara at Bhadaur in Barnala district, but he was not allowed to move towards that side.

In September last, Amritpal held a programme in Moga district’s Rode, the village of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The 29-year-old radical leader dresses like Bhindranwale and even copies his mannerisms, while raising pro-Khalistan slogans in his programmes. He often travels with armed men.

Khalistani Ideologue Raising His Own Army

In shocking revelations amidst the state-wide crackdown against the Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh and his supporters, the Khalistan ideologue was trying to raise his own army — the Anandpur Khalsa Force (AKF) — on the lines of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

The Police has claimed that Amritpal was trying to set up a private army, and they have found the initials ‘AKF’ on many weapons seized during the operation. The Amritsar police, on Sunday, also recovered some jackets with the AKF logo.

A visit to Amritpal's ancestral home at Jallupur Kheda revealed that he had also printed AKF on the entrance of his house, besides a wall facing the house.

The police has also started probing Amritpal's aides, arrested from various places, regarding the same.

Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh, told the reporters that police did not find anything illegal in their house after conducting raids for around four hours. “We don’t have correct info about him (Amritpal Singh). Police conducted searches for three-four hours at our house. They didn’t find anything illegal…Police should have arrested him when he left from the house,” he said.

‘My Son Not ISI Agent’

Amritpal Singh's father, Tarsem Singh, claimed that is son is not ISI agent as claimed by the agencies. At the same time, he asserted that the police have arrested his son but were not disclosing it.

“My son is not an ISI agent. He was just promoting religion and helping people leave drugs. The police did not take any action against the drug smugglers but the person who was saving people from falling into the trap is being harassed,” said Tarsem Singh, adding that the family fears that Singh might be killed in an encounter.

Amritpal’s financier arrested

Punjab Police on Sunday arrested Amritpal Singh’s financier Daljit Singh Kalsi, also an actor and producer, from Gurugram in Haryana.

Daljeet Singh Kalsi, alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi, is said to have served as the advisor and financier for Waris Punjab De. His arrest was made when Punjab Police were attempting to seize Amritpal Singh, the head of the Khalistani-supporting group ‘Waris Punjab de’. A renowned face in the Punjab entertainment industry, Kalsi hails from Amritsar.