Harpreet Singh, the brother of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, was arrested by the Jalandhar Police early on July 12 at a checkpoint in Phillaur, Jalandhar. Police sources reported that Harpreet Singh was found in possession of four grams of methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘ice’. Another individual, identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Luv from Cheema Bath village, was also detained along with Harpreet Singh.
The arrest occurred during a routine check at the Phillaur checkpoint. According to police sources, Harpreet Singh was potentially under the influence of drugs at the time of his detention. He was immediately subjected to a medical examination following his arrest. Ankur Gupta, SSP of Jalandhar Rural, confirmed the arrests and stated that a detailed press release would be issued soon.
Following the news of the arrest, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa claimed that the incident was an attempt to tarnish the image of Amritpal Singh’s family. Rozana Spokesman, however, has not confirmed the news of the drug seizure, citing the lack of official confirmation.
Amritpal Singh, a prominent figure in Punjab’s political and social landscape, heads the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit. He first gained attention for his anti-drug campaign in Punjab and subsequently opened a de-addiction centre in his village, Jallupur Khera. However, his activities took a radical turn when he started making provocative, pro-Khalistan statements.
In a notable incident last year, Amritpal Singh and his supporters clashed with police at the Ajnala police station while attempting to free an associate from custody. This led to his arrest and the filing of multiple charges against him, including anti-national activities. He is lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA).
Despite being in jail, Amritpal Singh contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from the Khadoor Sahib constituency. He won the seat significantly, defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by 197,120 votes. Amritpal Singh was recently taken to Delhi under tight security to take his oath as a Member of Parliament, after which he was returned to Assam.
The arrest of Harpreet Singh is expected to have significant implications, both for Amritpal Singh’s family and his political outfit. The incident comes when Amritpal Singh is already scrutinised for his controversial activities and radical statements. As investigations continue, the focus will be on uncovering the extent of Harpreet Singh’s involvement in drug-related activities and the potential impact on his brother’s political career.
