Assam: Amritpal’s 7 aides flown to Punjab in phased operation from Dibrugarh

Seven associates of pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh have been taken to Punjab by air from Dibrugarh. The pro-Khalistani supporters were flown from Dibrugarh's Mohanbari Airport.

In the first phase, three individuals were taken on the flight, while the remaining ones were taken in the subsequent phase.

Since the government sources have not disclosed any information, the details remain unclear regarding how many people were taken. 

One day earlier, seven aides of Amritpal Singh were re-arrested by the Punjab Police shortly after their release from the Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. 

The arrests come following the expiry of their National Security Act (NSA) remand, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

A 25-member team of the Punjab Police, led by Superintendent of Police Harinder Singh Gill, had been stationed in Dibrugarh for several days to oversee the transfer process of Singh’s associates, who had been detained there for nearly two years.

According to officials, Kulwant Singh, Harjeet Singh, and Gurinder Pal Singh were released on Wednesday as their NSA detention period ended. However, immediately after their release, the Punjab Police re-arrested them in connection with another case and presented them before a court in Dibrugarh to seek transit remand for their transfer to Punjab.

In the past two days, four other aides—Gurmeet Singh, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke), Daljit Singh Kalsi, and Basant Singh—were also released and arrested again under fresh charges.

Amritpal Singh, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate and won from the Khadoor Sahib seat in Punjab, remains in detention at Dibrugarh Central Jail. Alongside him, Papalpreet Singh and Varinder Singh Johal continue to be held under NSA, with their detention scheduled to expire in June 2025.

The Punjab government opted not to renew the NSA against the seven released aides, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had stated earlier. Instead, they will now face legal action related to the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case, where they are accused of spreading communal disharmony, attempted murder, attacking police personnel, and obstructing law enforcement duties.