Protests Erupt in Chandigarh Demanding Release of Amritpal Singh and Sikh Detainees

Protests in Chandigarh

On Wednesday, leaders and supporters of the Akali Dal staged a protest in Chandigarh, calling for the release of party MP Amritpal Singh and other Sikh detainees. To prevent the demonstrators from advancing, a significant police presence was deployed at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, complete with barricades. The protesters chanted slogans demanding the freedom of Amritpal Singh and other Sikh prisoners. During the demonstration, police utilized water cannons to disperse the crowd, leading to one activist climbing onto a water cannon vehicle.

Background on Amritpal Singh

Amritpal Singh was arrested on April 23, 2023, and has been held under the National Security Act (NSA) at the Dibrugarh jail in Assam. He returned to Punjab in 2022 after the death of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu, taking over leadership of the pro-Khalistan organization, 'Waris Punjab De.' His arrest occurred on February 23, 2023, in Rode village, Moga, during a protest outside the Ajnala police station with his supporters.

Clashes with Police

The protest saw clashes with police officials as demonstrators attempted to free a colleague who had been detained for making inflammatory pro-Khalistan statements. Since his arrest in 2023, Amritpal Singh's detention has been extended twice, with new dates set for April 2024 and April 2025. Following the extension in April 2025, the pro-Khalistan leader filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.