Friday, March 24, 2023

India's Manhunt for a Hardline Sikh Leader Leads to Internet Shutdowns and Global Protests. The psychological methods used by Amritpal Singh to raise his army #AmritpalSingh #Punjab #India






For six consecutive days, authorities in India have been on a nationwide hunt for Amritpal Singh, a hardline Sikh leader from the northwestern state of Punjab who rose to prominence for supporting the Khalistan movement, which calls for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland.

30-year-old Singh has been on the run since March 18. To find him, authorities have deployed thousands of paramilitary police and restricted Internet and mobile messaging services across the state—forcing nearly 30 million people to go offline. Singh leads a group called Waris Punjab De, which means “the heirs of Punjab,” and made national headlines in February when hundreds of his supporters stormed a local police station with guns and swords to demand the release of a jailed aide.

So far, the police have arrested more than a hundred people linked to the incident, including Singh’s uncle and driver.  On Sunday, an official told the local press that the police preemptively arrested individuals who were “attempting to disturb law and order in Punjab.”

Here’s what to know about the events unfolding:


Who is Amritpal Singh?


Singh is a self-styled preacher who rose to prominence after the year-long farmers’ protests in 2020 against new agricultural laws proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (the government repealed the laws in November 2021). Before this, he was a relatively unknown truck driver who ran a car rental business in Dubai.

During the protests Singh joined Waris Punjab De, an organization founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu, to mobilize farmers. After Sidhu was killed in a car crash in February 2022, Singh took over the organization and continued to campaign for Sikh rights by giving impassioned speeches against rising Hindu nationalism sentiments under the Modi administration, as well as social issues like rampant drug addiction in Punjab.

His speeches resonated with many Sikhs and have led to his rising popularity. Amritpal Singh is a hardline Sikh leader who supports the Khalistan movement, which aims to create an independent Sikh homeland. He leads a group called Waris Punjab De and gained national attention when his supporters stormed a local police station in February 2022. Singh rose to prominence during the year-long farmers' protests in 2020 against new agricultural laws proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He joined Waris Punjab De to mobilize farmers and took over the organization after its founder, Deep Sidhu, was killed in a car crash. Singh campaigns for Sikh rights and against rising Hindu nationalism sentiments under the Modi administration, as well as social issues like rampant drug addiction in Punjab. He has been on the run since March 18, and authorities have deployed thousands of paramilitary police to find him. So far, more than a hundred people linked to the incident have been arrested, including Singh's uncle and driver.                                                                                                                                   

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