Amritpal Singh shifted to Assam’s Dibrugarh jail amid tight security

A special Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying Singh, who was accompanied by Punjab police officials, from Amritsar reached Mohanbari airport around 2:20pm and from there, he was taken to Dibrugarh jail under tight security in a convoy of vehicles

Updated on: Apr 23, 2023, 18:53:09 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, who was arrested by Punjab Police on Sunday morning at Punjab’s Moga, was shifted to Assam later in the day amid high security.

Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan leader was arrested on Sunday (File Photo)

The Waris Punjab De chief has been shifted to the central jail in Assam’s Dibrugarh, said officials familiar with the matter. Dibrugarh central jail is considered the most secure prison in Assam, where nine of Singh’s associates, including family members, have been lodged and charged under the National Security Act (NSA).

Also Read: Punjab CM on Amritpal Singh’s arrest operation: ‘Didn’t sleep at night, asked officials to…’

“Singh arrived at Mohanbari airport in Dibrugarh and has been shifted to the central jail. Security arrangements in and around the jail had already been beefed up,” said Dibrugarh superintendent of police (SP) Shwetank Mishra.

A special Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying Singh, who was accompanied by Punjab police officials, from Amritsar reached Mohanbari airport around 2:20pm and from there, he was taken to Dibrugarh jail under tight security in a convoy of vehicles.

Officials said that following routine medical checkups he was kept in a solitary cell of the jail away from his associates. He will be interrogated by officials from various central intelligence agencies in the coming days, they said.

The radical preacher came under the police radar following the storming of Ajnala police station on February 23. He had been evading Punjab police since March 18, the day he went into hiding and after 35 days of a massive manhunt, he was arrested on Sunday in Moga district’s Rode village.

Prior to Singh’s arrival, senior police and district officials took stock of security arrangements in the jail. Additional CCTV cameras have been installed in the jail premises, which will be manned by both state and central police personnel, said jail officials.

Also Read: Amritpal Singh arrested weeks after his open threat to Amit Shah, Bhagwant Mann

Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of Singh, who was arrested in Punjab’s Hoshiyarpur on April 10, was the last one to have been brought to jail.

On March 19, the first batch of four Amritpal Singh aides were brought to Dibrugarh and housed there. Two days later, his uncle Harjeet Singh and two others were also brought to jail. Later, Singh’s gunman Varinder Johal joined the others.

On Wednesday, five members of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) arrived in Dibrugarh to interact with the nine jailed aides of Amritpal Singh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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