Who's Amritpal Singh, the Dubai-returned 'Khalistan sympathiser' at the center of controversy in Punjab

Radical preacher Amritpal Singh is the head of the religious organisation Waris Punjab De, which was founded by activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year. It is alleged that he has close links with Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and some terrorist groups based abroad.

Government officials allege that Amritpal Singh, who had even issued a veiled threat to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has been trying to destabilise the situation in Punjab by indoctrinating and attracting the Sikh youth into the fold of his outfit "Waris Punjab De".

Who is Amritpal Singh?
According to police records, Amritpal has been involved in scores of disputes, kidnappings and issuing threats.


30-year-old Amritpal Singh came to the limelight in the past 6-7 months in Punjab as a separatist leader, Khalistani sympathiser and radical preacher.

Amritpal Singh claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, a militant leader who was an ardent supporter of the demands of Khalistan. Bhindranwale was killed in the infamous Operation Blue Star in June 1984.

Amritpal Singh has recently returned from Dubai.

After his return from Dubai, Singh was anointed the head of 'Waris Punjab De' at an event at Rode in Moga district, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Hailing from Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, he moves around with armed men like slain militant Bhindranwale. Some of his supporters even call him "Bhindranwale 2.0”.

"Our aim for Khalistan shouldn't be seen as evil & taboo. It should be seen from an intellectual point of view as to what could be its geopolitical benefits. It's an ideology &ideology never dies. We are not asking for it from Delhi," Amritpal Singh had said earlier.


Recently, he had also issued a threat to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he will meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

He used to work in his family-owned transport business.

Earlier this month, he tied the knot with a UK-based NRI, Kirandeep Kaur, in a simple ceremony at Jallupur Khera, his native village.

When asked whether he will stay in Amritsar with his NRI wife -- as he has been asking youths not to go abroad -- Amritpal Singh said his marriage was an example of reverse migration, noting that he and his wife will remain in Punjab.