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Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal’s aide released after Punjab court order
Day after thousands of supporters of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh stormed the Ajnala police station, demanding his release, Lovepreet Singh, alias Toofan, walked free from Amritsar central jail
Hours after a court in Punjab’s Ajnala ordered his release, Lovepreet Singh, alias Toofan, the aide of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, walked out of the Amritsar central jail on Friday afternoon.
Thousands of supporters of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh had laid siege to the Ajnala police station on Thursday, demanding Lovepreet’s release in a kidnap and assault case. “My release is because we were united. The Sikh qaum (community) should stay united,” Lovepreet said.
Earlier on Friday, inspector general of police, Amritsar border range, Monish Chawla said that the Ajnala court had accepted the discharge application and Lovepreet was being released.
Also read: Amritpal Singh, the new face of fundamentalist fringe
Before his aide’s release, Amritpal Singh said in a video message shared on social media: “Our aim for Khalistan shouldn’t be seen as evil and taboo. It should be seen from an intellectual point of view as to what could be its geopolitical benefits. It’s an ideology and an ideology never dies. We are not asking for it from Delhi.”
The Sikh preacher’s supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, had broken though barricades and laid siege to the police station complex in Ajnala on Thursday afternoon, demanding Lovepreet’s release. Three policemen were injured in the clash, officials said.
Amritsar Rural superintendent of police Satinder Singh told reporters that they (Amritpal’s supporters) have given evidence, according to which he (Lovepreet Singh), was not present at the spot, referring to the alleged kidnapping. “They gave the evidence on Thursday. On the basis of that he is being discharged through the court,” said the SSP.
The situation is peaceful and under control, he said in response to a question.
Amritpal and his supporters camped at Gurdwara Baba Deep, about half a km from the police station, overnight after the police gave them the assurance of Lovepreet’s release.
Amritpal had on Thursday issued an ultimatum for the release of his supporter against whom a case was registered along with 30 others for kidnapping and thrashing Barinder Singh, a resident of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.
Barinder Singh, in his complaint, had told the police that Amritpal’s associates had abducted him from Ajnala and taken him to an unknown place where he was thrashed.
