He was born in Amritsar's Jallupur Khera village in 1993. Amritpal studied up to Class 12, and in 2012 left India to work with his uncle's transport company in Dubai.
He came to the notice of Punjab's politicians and police only six months ago when he was anointed the head of Waris Punjab De, an organisation founded by actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu.
Amritpal and his supporters claim Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February 2022, was murdered by the 'state'.Amritpal never met Sidhu in person but says he was strongly influenced by him in their online interactions.
Amritpal had backed Deep Sidhu when others vilified him for the Red Fort protests on Republic Day of 2021 during the farmers' agitation. On Sidhu's first death anniversary a week ago,Amritpal said he had stopped trimming his hair on the late actor's advice in November 2021.
On September 25 last year, Amritpal went through a formal Sikh baptism at Anandpur Sahib to become an 'Amritdhari Sikh'.Just four days later - on September 29 — large numbers of Sikhs again gathered to witness
Amritpal's 'dastar bandi' (turban-tying ceremony to indicate the taking on of a responsibility) at Rode village, the birthplace of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, whose name is inseparable from the Punjab militancy.
Amritpal's transformation from a clean-shaven transporter in Dubai to a separatist Sikh leader with a flowing beard has been swift. He dresses like Bhindranwale and some are already calling him Bhindranwale 2.0.
In a recent speech, he said he was questioned by the 'agencies' for quite some time when he landed at Amritsar airport. A Sikh youth being questioned about returning to his homeland is a sign of 'ghulami' (slavery), he added.
He has been espousing the cause of Khalistan on Facebook for quite some time. Why is it wrong for a Sikh to demand Khalistan if advocacy of a Hindu Rashtra is not punished, he asked.
In an interview to a Punjabi news channel, Amritpal had said he was drawn to Sikh activism after the Bargari sacrilege and Behbal Kalan police firing of 2015.
Amritpal dresses and presents himself similar to Bhindranwale. This includes wearing a turban and robe similar to ones worn by Bhindranwale.
According to police records, Amritpal Singh is married to UK-based NRI Kirandeep Kaur.There are three case registered against Amritpal Singh, out of which two are related to hate speech and one is related to kidnapping.