Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on Saturday against Amritpal Singh, a radical preacher, separatist and chief of 'Waris Punjab de' an organisation founded by Deep Sidhu, a protest leader who hit the headlines over the hoisting of the Nishan Sahib flag on the Red Fort on Republic Day in 2021 to protect the rights of Punjab and raise social issues.
Born in 1993, Amritpal Singh Sandhu hails from Jallupur Khera village in Baba Bakala tehsil of Amritsar district.
Singh was first noticed on social media during the farmers’ stir in 2021.
He lived in Dubai then, according to an Indian Express report, where he worked for his family-owned business for nearly a decade.
Singh was a supporter of Deep Sidhu and when Sidhu passed away in Feb 2022 in a road accident, Singh returned to India from Dubai. He was made head of Waris Punjab De in Sept 2022
Amritpal Singh claims to be an ardent follower of Jarnail Singh Bhinderwala, a militant leader, who demanded Khalistan. Bhinderwala was killed in 1984 during Operation Blue Star.
Amritpal Singh’s popularity was built over Facebook lives and other social media sessions, with his aggressive and controversial speeches against regional and national political parties, feminists, activists, Khalsa Aid, and even some pro-Khalistan groups such as Dal Khalsa.
Amritpal Singh is married to UK-based NRI Kirandeep Kaur, as per police records.
Called as "Bhindranwale 2.0", Singh is often seen moving around with armed men.