How big a threat is Amritpal Singh really?

The rise of Amritpal Singh, the radical Sikh preacher is a worrying scenario for Punjab as he is looking to build a cult status on the lines of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Bhindranwale took six years in the 1980s to build a cult status after which he was killed in the Operation Bluestar in 1984.

Intelligence Bureau officials however tell OneIndia that the cases of Amritpal and Bhindranwale are starkly different. Although one must not ignore his rise, the fact remains that he has put in hardly any effort to build a cult status like how Bhindranwale had done.

Bhindranwale took six years to build a status among the Sikhs in Punjab. In the case of Amritpal, he just appeared on the scene out of no-where and began running a movement. He was dropped into Punjab and asked to head the Waris Punjab De, following the death of Deep Sidhu. The fact that Punjab has not erupted in protests following the crackdown on Amritpal and his supporters, if a testimony that the radical leader does not have the desired traction. Had it been Bhindranwale, matters would have been entirely different the official cited above said.

Amritpal arrived in Punjab following the Lok Sabha by-election at the Sangrur constituency. The by-election became necessary after Bhagwant Mann vacated the seat after he became chief minister of Punjab. The elections were won by radical leader Simranjeet Singh Mann. While the fact remained that the voters had vented their ire against the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Amritpal and his followers saw this is as a ripe opportunity to further their movement. He and his supporters went around the state demanding for a separate Khalistan country.

Amritpal was under the radar for long, but shot to fame after his supporters attacked the Ajnala police station. This is something that no other Sikh leader has done in the past, including Bhindranwale. The police were unable to hit back as Amritpal's supporters had with them the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, which they used as a shield.

The attack at Ajnala could have been death knell for Amritpal as many Sikhs criticised the action. Another reason for him losing traction is because he decided to play hide and seek with the law, which Bhindranwale had not done. Amritpal's ideological mentor, Bhindranwale had in fact never run away from the law. He had also once courted arrest, but was released for want of evidence.

The official cited above said that in the case of Amritpal there is a lot of suspicion. It is a well-known fact that he is backed by Pakistan's ISI. The people of Punjab do not want to a situation that prevailed in the 1980s and hence such movements have failed to gain mass traction, the official explained. It is also a well-known fact that he has the backing of the pro-khalistan elements who have taken refuge abroad.

Meanwhile the police have put up 'wanted posters' seeking information on the whereabouts of Amritpal Singh. "Whosoever has any information about him can share it on the mobile numbers given below. Appropriate reward will be given on providing the information," read the poster.