“Enough is enough”- Bhai Amritpal Singh makes prison stand

Sikh leader turned political prisoner Bhai Amritpal Singh has cosigned a letter stating that he will partake in a protest whilst incarcerated against authorities “mentally torturing” him and “denying permission” for lawyer visits.

Bhai Amritpal Singh and nine of his fellow Sikh political prisoners stated they will not allow prison guards to lock their barracks in protest, whilst also starting a hunger strike according to recent reports, including a video plea from his mother, requesting support for the prisoners to be brought to Punjab jails, rather than 20,000miles away in Assam.

The news came via an open letter released by Waris Punjab De (Heirs/Custodians of Punjab), the social reform group previously headed by Bhai Amritpal Singh, until he was the focus of the biggest manhunt in history, leading to him having to hand himself in for arrest in April this year. Over the last two years, Bhai Amritpal Singh became a globally respected Sikh leader for his efforts to both encourage people to follow Sikhi and also challenge issues such as Punjab Police torture of citizens and the drug mafia corruption in the state, whilst promoting Sikh sovereignty, including the idea of Khalistan (free Sikh homeland movement).

Whilst many critics highlight Bhai Amritpal Singh’s participation in a broad daylight mass raid on Ajnala police station in February as an example of his criminality, many Sikh orgs have highlighted how that raid was based on freeing detainees from a place of known torture, where many were arbitrarily taken based on perceived affiliation to Sikh activism and criticism of the state.

The letter, released on 28th September, was also signed by fellow Sikh political prisoners Gurinderpal Singh Aujla, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Papalpreet Singh, Basant Singh, Daljeet Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh and Harjit Singh, all of whom were targeted during the #PunjabUnderSiege mass operation targeting Sikh activists, journalists, academics and more last March, which was focused on bringing in Bhai Amritpal Singh.

The letter highlights how their legal rep advocate Rajdev Singh Khalsa has been continually denied permission from DC (Deputy Commissioner) Amritsar to see his clients in Dilbrugarh Jail, which has left the prisoners without any update on their status and no opportunity to work for their freedom. Rajdev Singh, who is from Punjab, was in the area for two days but was not allowed to see his clients, with authorities claiming that they had given previous clearance to a different legal advocate and would not allow a different one to see the prisoners.

Bhai Amritpal Singh’s wife, born-and-raised UK citizen Kirandeep Kaur who he married in February, has been prevented three times from leaving India amid her husband’s ongoing situation. Many Sikh groups have expressed concern about her safety in the country. In the video from Bhai Amritpal Singh’s mother, she announced Kirandeep would also be taking part in the hunger strike in solidarity with her husband.

Bhai Amritpal Singh also announced a previous hunger strike in June due to torture, including authorities placing tobacco – the use of which is against Sikhi – in his food. That hunger strike ended within days after it led to better treatment for him and the other Sikh prisoners.

Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a big supporter of Bhai Amritpal Singh, leading protests in British Columbia (Canada) regarding his arrest just months before he was assassinated in Surrey. Similarly, Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda was also very vocal on support for Bhai Amritpal Singh, months before he died in suspected poisoning in June in Birmingham, days before Nijjar was murdered. Bhai Amritpal Singh was also close with actor turned activist Deep Sidhu, the previous head of Waris Punjab De, who died in a suspicious car accident last year.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com.