Amritpal Singh to remain in Assam jail after NSA detention ends on Apr 22: Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday ordered Khalistani leader and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh to remain lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail even after the expiry of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) on April 22.

The interim order came during a hearing on March 17, wherein a bench led by the Chief Justice and Justice Sanjeev Berry was examining a petition filed by the Punjab government seeking his continued custody in connection with multiple cases, including those linked to the 2023 attack on Ajnala police station.

The Punjab government argued that shifting Amritpal Singh back to Punjab could pose a threat to law and order, citing intelligence inputs. Accepting the concern for now, the court allowed his continued stay in Dibrugarh jail beyond April 22, when his NSA detention is set to end.

Amritpal Singh’s counsel opposed the move, contending that keeping him in Assam restricts his ability to pursue legal remedies such as bail and trial proceedings. The defence also pointed out that he is named in 11 FIRs and urged that he be formally arrested in all cases and tried simultaneously.

After hearing both sides, the High Court permitted the interim continuation of his custody in Assam and directed authorities to ensure proper arrangements for legal access. It asked jail officials to facilitate court proceedings through video conferencing and enable consultations with his lawyers.

The Assam government assured the court that adequate infrastructure is already in place within the jail premises. Taking note of this, the bench allowed future hearings in all pending cases to be conducted virtually from Dibrugarh.

During the proceedings, the court also raised questions over whether the defence could guarantee that Amritpal Singh’s return to Punjab would not disrupt public order.

Amritpal Singh, who faces 11 criminal cases, will now attend court hearings via video conferencing from Dibrugarh jail. The next date of hearing is yet to be fixed.

Amritpal Singh, head of the Waris Punjab De radical outfit, who styled himself as Khalistani separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Moga on April 23, 2023, after evading authorities for nearly a month.

The Punjab Police had launched a statewide crackdown on his group following the February 23, 2023 Ajnala incident. During that episode, Amritpal Singh and his supporters – some armed with swords and firearms – allegedly breached police barricades, stormed a police station on the outskirts of Amritsar, and clashed with personnel while demanding the release of his associates.

From jail, Amritpal Singh contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as an Independent and won from Khadoor Sahib in Tarn Taran district.

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(with inputs from PTI)