Chandigarh: A specialized team of the Punjab Police has arrived at the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam to initiate formal arrest proceedings against Khadoor Sahib MP and radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh. The move follows the expiration of his preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA) today, April 22, 2026. The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently granted the state government permission to keep Singh lodged in the high-security Assam facility even after his formal arrest in connection with multiple pending criminal cases, including the high-profile Ajnala police station attack of February 2023.
Amritpal Singh’s legal status has remained a central focus for Punjab’s security apparatus since his initial arrest in April 2023 at Rode village. While his preventive detention allowed the state to maintain order, it simultaneously stalled the trial for the Ajnala case, where he is the prime accused alongside 40 others. By formally arresting him now, the Punjab Police aim to advance the judicial process. Notably, the High Court has also permitted the trial and all related remand proceedings to be conducted via video conferencing, citing “exceptional circumstances” and the potential for a total breakdown of law and order should Singh be physically produced in a Punjab court.
Despite his prolonged incarceration, Singh’s political influence was underscored by his victory as an Independent candidate from the Khadoor Sahib constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, his tenure as a Member of Parliament has been largely restricted to his oath-taking in July 2024. The state government has repeatedly and successfully opposed his parole applications for attending parliamentary sessions, arguing that his release would pose a severe threat to national security. With over a dozen FIRs pending against him—ranging from attempt to murder to promoting enmity—officials believe this fresh arrest is a crucial step toward bringing the legal investigations to a definitive conclusion.
