Amritpal Singh’s Mother Detained Before March Demanding His Transfer

The arrest of Balwinder Kaur, the mother of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, has sparked controversy in Punjab. Kaur was taken into custody on Sunday, just a day before a significant march, dubbed the Chetna March, was scheduled. This event aimed to advocate for the transfer of Amritpal Singh from Dibrugarh jail in Assam to a facility in Punjab. Amritpal Singh, who leads the Waris Punjab De outfit, was detained in April of the previous year, with the stringent National Security Act (NSA) being applied against him and nine of his associates.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Alam Vijay Singh confirmed Kaur's judicial custody, labeling it a preventive arrest. However, further details regarding the arrest were not disclosed. Alongside Kaur, Amritpal's uncle Sukhchain Singh and three others were also detained by the police. This series of arrests occurred in anticipation of the Chetna March that was set to commence from Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda on April 8.

The family members of the detainees, including Kaur, had been engaging in a hunger strike since February 22 near the Golden Temple in Amritsar. They vowed to persist with their protest until Amritpal Singh and his associates were relocated to a Punjab jail. The individuals detained alongside Amritpal include Daljeet Singh Kalsi, Papalpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh, and Gurinderpal Singh Aujla—all booked under the NSA.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has voiced its disapproval of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's actions leading to these arrests. SAD spokesperson Parambans Singh Romana criticized the detention of various organizers related to the march, including Amritpal Singh's mother, as condemnable actions by the state government.

This incident has heightened tensions and drawn attention to the demands of those advocating for the rights and fair treatment of detainees in Punjab. The situation remains closely watched by both national and international observers as developments continue to unfold.