Sikh leader launches prison hunger-strike after discovering spying equipment in his cell

Sikh leader Bhai Amritpal Singh is to go on hunger strike after news of his continued torture and attempts to spy on him were revealed in an audio release from Singh himself.

Bhai Amritpal Singh the Sikh community leader who heads Waris Punjab De, a social reform group that focus on tackling Punjab’s addiction epidemic, is to be joined on the hunger-strike by nine of his fellow WPD members who are also incarcerated, a move which comes after stealth video-audio equipment was found by Singh in his cell this week.

Bhai Amritpal Singh and other members of Waris Punjab De have been detained in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail since March 2023 without trial. Singh famously handed himself in on 16th April 2023 after a month absconding arrest. WPD quickly rose as a popular movement from around 2020 for raising the Sikh voice and encouraging political autonomy in Punjab against oppressive Indian authorities, leading to its lead figures becoming targeted by the Indian State. Its first leader, actor turned activist Deep Sidhu, died in a suspicious car accident in February 2022. Bhai Amritpal Singh found himself targeted for arrest in a mass operation known as #PunjabUnderSiege in March last year, a month after he led a community effort to free falsely detained members of WPD from a police station, where torture was being reported.

In approximately nine-weeks the National Security Act (NSA) which has been used to detain the WPD sevadaars (selfless servants) will become redundant, forcing authorities to create a new guise under which to detain him, suggesting a motive for the attempt to spy on him, where he shares space with some of the WPD members.

On 16th February 2024 staff entered this cell with alleged electricians, under the guise of changing bulbs. After reentering their cells, hidden cameras in the bulb holders were discovered. The WPD sangat (Sikh congregation) summoned the Chief Warden and removed the cameras in front of them. It is believed that the footage from the hidden cameras was being transmitted live to Indian authorities. Use of these cameras is both illegal in India’s own constitution and a breach of human rights.

The next day 300 officers entered Singh’s wing and seized everything they had, including personal belongings and general means of entertainment for the entire wing, including the TV.

Amritpal Singh left a four-minute message for the wider sangat over the phone where he detailed these revelations.

In an attempt to cover their backs, the Indian authorities have released images of the cameras, claiming that they have just discovered them, implying that Amritpal Singh’s wife, Kirandeep Kaur had snuck them into the prison, a story amplified by nationalist media outlets.

Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur and other relations of the WPD team will participate in the hunger strike according to reports. Kaur has been forced to remain in India since she wedded Bhai Amritpal Singh last February.

Along with the spying concerns, the group are also alerting sangat to a belief that the food being provided to them is poisoned, whilst previously they complained it was tainted with tobacco, a substance Khalsa (initiated) Sikhs are forbidden to touch. Their pending release dates, and fear of what the Indian authorities will do to them in prison
to prevent them from leaving, mean that they want to be moved to a prison in Punjab as soon as possible. In his public address, Bhai Amritpal Singh appealed for a transfer to a Punjab jail or the repatriation of their bodies to Punjab for cremation if necessary.

Papalpreet Singh, another Singh being detained alongside Amritpal Singh, also left a phone call on the 20th of February 2024, relaying to his mother that the WPD team are chardi-kala (high spirits), but some are in poor health due to the hunger-strike. Other groups connected with WPD have also outlined the declining health conditions of the imprisoned group, underlining the reason they are being denied legal visits.

Both Amritpal Singh’s mother, Balwinder Kaur, and Waris Punjab De’s lawyer, Imaan Singh, have released videos to the public detailing these human rights abuses against the Singhs, whilst also pressing for the government to come clean on why they are attempting to spy on Amritpal Singh whilst imprisoned, and who authorised the attempt.

Amritpal Singh’s brother issues a further appeal to sangat via WPD.

The hunger-strike is due to continue indefinitely until conditions improve for the group, whilst efforts to move to Punjab will continue too.

A protest in support of Bhai Amritpal Singh and the ongoing #FarmersProtest2024 movement has been announced for the UK, with more within the global diaspora incoming.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com.