Seven aides of pro-Khalistani radical preacher Amritpal Singh were released from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam on March 19, 2025, after their remand under the National Security Act (NSA) expired, only to be re-arrested by the Punjab Police almost immediately. This situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Singh and his associates, who have been in custody for nearly two years.
A 25-member team from the Punjab Police has been in Dibrugarh to facilitate the transfer of Singh's associates. Following their release, Kulwant Singh, Harjeet Singh, and Gurinder Pal Singh were promptly arrested again by the Punjab Police and presented before a Dibrugarh court to seek transit remand back to Punjab. In total, four other individuals—Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke), Daljit Singh Kalsi, and Basant Singh—also faced similar circumstances, being released and re-arrested in the wake of the same legal proceedings.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Border Range Amritsar), Satinder Singh, confirmed that police would advance the investigation into the 2023 Ajnala police station attack incident, which has been a critical point of contention involving Singh and his group. Moreover, it was reported that security lapses in the jail where NSA detainees are held allowed for the recovery of objectionable material, including mobile phones and spy cameras, raising questions about the conditions of detention.
Amritpal Singh himself has been incarcerated since April 2023, under the NSA, alongside other members of his organization, Waris Punjab De. His detention, and those of his associates, had previously been extended for a year in 2024. This move came especially after they were arrested during a crackdown on separatist activities in Punjab. As of mid-2025, authorities plan the possible transfer of the remaining three members still detained under the NSA, including Singh.
While initially detained under the NSA, Punjab Police decided against extending the NSA provision in favor of these individuals at the end of their current detention period. Instead, they will face formal arrest in connection with the Ajnala police station attack. This attack has become a focal point for law enforcement, as it involves serious accusations including spreading disharmony among communities, attempted murder, and hindering lawful duties of public servants.
The political landscape surrounding Amritpal Singh shifted dramatically when he contested, and subsequently won, a Lok Sabha seat as an Independent candidate from Khadoor Sahib during the 2024 elections, a move that many observers saw as a strategic maneuver to gain legitimacy and public support.
In addition to the immediate legal processes in place, there is a wider narrative of concern regarding the security and motivations behind the pro-Khalistani movement. The Indian government, along with Punjab authorities, remains vigilant about the ramifications of such movements on regional stability. The actions surrounding the arrests and transfers of Singh and his aides underline deeper issues of governance and support for separatist sentiments in Punjab.
Going forward, with all seven aides of Singh now officially transferred to Punjab, the legal framework and prosecution process pertaining to the Ajnala police station case will proceed. The Punjab Police team, led by Superintendent of Police Harinder Singh Gill, is tasked with ensuring that all legal formalities are adhered to as they return these individuals, who present complex challenges both legally and politically.
The pro-Khalistani figures remain intertwined in a contentious national dialogue regarding identity, governance, and the balance between regional aspirations and national unity. As their cases unfold, the implications for local communities, law enforcement practices, and political entities will continue to evolve in the charged atmosphere surrounding these events.
