Amritpal Singh Supporters Face Police Action During March to Punjab CM’s Residence

A protest march by Akali Dal Waris Punjab De supporters demanding the release of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and other Sikh prisoners turned confrontational on Wednesday after demonstrators clashed with Chandigarh Police near the Punjab-Chandigarh border.

Hundreds of protesters marched from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali towards the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh and the Bandi Singhs Sikh prisoners convicted in cases related to militancy during the 1990s Punjab insurgency. The Chandigarh Police had deployed heavy security, erected barricades, and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent the march from entering the city. The situation escalated when protesters attempted to break through barricades near the Chandigarh-Mohali border.

Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, leading to clashes in which several police personnel were injured. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said some officers suffered serious injuries, while several protesters were detained. Some demonstrators carrying traditional weapons, including swords, were also present during the march. The confrontation intensified when protesters climbed onto a police water cannon vehicle and attempted to redirect it. Despite appeals from police officials and protest leaders to maintain restraint, some supporters continued moving towards the Chief Minister’s residence, causing traffic disruptions in Chandigarh.

The protesters later stopped after submitting a memorandum to an Officer on Special Duty to the Punjab Chief Minister. Those who continued trying to proceed were detained. The protest centred on the continued detention of Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Dibrugarh jail, Assam, in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. Arrested in April 2023, Amritpal later contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate and won from Khadoor Sahib.

The demonstration highlights the continuing debate over civil liberties, prisoner rights, and security concerns in Punjab. While supporters describe the movement as a demand for justice, authorities remain cautious due to the state's history of militancy and concerns over maintaining public order. The incident underscores the challenge before Punjab’s government of balancing the right to protest with preventing situations that could threaten law and order.