The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a sweeping operation early Friday morning, launched simultaneous raids on the residences of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s relatives across several locations in Punjab. The raids, which took place at various locations in Amritsar and Gurdaspur were linked to ongoing investigations concerning the March 2023 attack on the Indian High Commission in Canada by Khalistan supporters.

The NIA’s actions began at 5 am with a raid on the residence of Pargat Singh, Amritpal Singh’s paternal uncle, in Rayya near Amritsar. However, Pargat Singh was not present at the time. The investigation team subsequently detained his wife Amarjit Kaur, and transported her to Beas police station for questioning. Kaur was interrogated for three hours before being released. She later informed reporters that both she and Pargat Singh have been summoned for further questioning in Chandigarh on September 26, linking the current raid to a case filed against Pargat Singh the previous year.

At Pargat Singh’s furniture shop in Rayya, the NIA team conducted a thorough search, including the first-floor residence above the shop. In his absence, NIA officers collected evidence and seized electronic devices.

Amritpal Singh’s brother-in-law, Amarjot Singh, who resides in Canada, also saw his family’s properties in Buttala village raided. Additional searches were carried out at homes of Amritpal’s another brother-in-law’s residence in Mehta village in Amritsar, and another relative at Sri Hargobindpur Sahib in Gurdaspur district.

The raid was part of an NIA investigation into the March 23, 2023, attack on the Indian High Commission in Canada, during which pro-Khalistani protesters raised anti-India slogans, tied Khalistani flags to the embassy’s boundary wall, and hurled grenades inside the compound. Following this, demonstrations by Khalistan supporters erupted outside Indian diplomatic missions in the US, UK, and Canada, culminating in a June 2023 FIR by the NIA against the demonstrators. The investigation aims to unearth the larger network behind these incidents, focusing on the possible involvement of Khalistani sympathizers with links to India.

A key development in the investigation was the focus on Amritpal Singh’s extended family. Amritpal Singh, a prominent figure in Punjab politics and leader of the Waris Punjab De group, was elected as an Independent MP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, securing a decisive victory over his Congress opponent by 1,97,120 votes. He has been vocal about social issues in Punjab, particularly concerning drug addiction and gangsterism, but has faced increasing scrutiny over alleged ties to pro-Khalistan elements.

Following the raids, Amritpal Singh’s team issued a statement condemning the NIA’s actions. The statement alleged that Amritpal’s family members, particularly elderly women, were being harassed without cause. “Bhai Sahib was elected by the people of Khadoor Sahib, yet his family continues to be disturbed in this manner. If the NIA has any evidence, it should be presented openly,” the statement read. It also criticized the government’s priorities, claiming that while Punjab struggles with drug addiction and gang violence, authorities are instead targeting Amritpal Singh’s family.

The NIA raid also extended to Amritpal Singh’s sister’s residence in Buttala village, further escalating the situation. In response to these raids, one of Amritpal’s key supporters, Charandeep Singh Bhinder, expressed frustration over the timing and nature of the operation. According to Bhinder, the raids coincided with recent political developments, particularly a stage erected by Amritpal’s supporters at an event in Baba Bakala Sahib, which had reportedly concerned state authorities.

Friday’s events follow a series of high-profile actions taken by law enforcement against those suspected of involvement with pro-Khalistani movements. As part of the ongoing crackdown, the NIA has previously targeted individuals and organizations believed to be financing or otherwise supporting these groups. This broader investigation is part of India’s response to growing concerns over the resurgence of Khalistani sentiment among diaspora communities, particularly in Canada, which has been a hotbed of such activities.