The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday heard arguments regarding the preventive detention of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act (NSA).
During the hearing, the Punjab Government strongly defended the continuation of his detention, presenting what it termed serious concerns related to public order and state security.
Government’s Key Arguments
Senior advocate Anupam Gupta, appearing for the Punjab Government, informed the court that two major grounds justified the continued detention:
- An alleged “hit list” containing names of 15 individuals.
- Alleged links with Canada-based designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla and other gangsters.
The government argued that material on record clearly indicates a serious threat to public order and state security. It submitted that several individuals named in the alleged list were previously associated with the organization Waris Punjab De but later became critical of Amritpal Singh. The ideological differences, which reportedly became public, were cited as a possible motive behind the alleged threats.
The state further informed the court that one individual named in the list was later murdered, underscoring the seriousness of the potential threat perception.
Reference to FIR and Security Concerns
The Punjab Government also referred to a 2024 FIR, stating that statements recorded during the investigation suggested that Amritpal Singh was allegedly in contact with individuals linked to banned and designated terrorist organizations.
The High Court is expected to continue hearing the matter tomorrow. Amritpal Singh has challenged his detention under the NSA, seeking relief from the court.
The case continues to draw significant legal and political attention across Punjab.
