Guwahati: Amritpal Singh, currently held under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Central Jail, raised concerns about the discovery of questionable items in his cell. Singh’s legal representative, former MP Rajdeo Singh Khalsar, addressed the media following a visit to Singh in jail.
Khalsar revealed that on February 16, Singh discovered a hidden spy camera and other items in his cell, promptly reporting the incident in a letter to the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner on the same day. However, the jail authorities’ announcement on February 17 regarding the recovery of these items was deemed mysterious by Khalsar.
During his visit to the jail, Khalsar disclosed that several of Singh’s associates in jail have fallen ill since the discovery, with a noticeable deterioration in the health of many colleagues. Amritpal Singh provided Khalsar with a copy of the letter submitted to the jail authorities on February 17 during the three-hour visit.
In response to the security breach, the Director General of Assam Police, GP Singh took to X, writing, “Reference NSA detenues at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam – On receipt of Information about unauthorised activities taking place in NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in public area of NSA Block. Inputs received confirmed unauthorised activities, based on which Jail staff searched the premise of NSA Cell early this morning, leading to recovery of smartphone with SIM, keypad phone, TV remote with keyboard, spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphone & speakers and smart watch which were lawfully seized by Jail staff. Source of these unauthorised articles and mode of induction is being ascertained. Further lawful action is being taken and steps being taken to prevent recurrence.”
Indian police detained Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh on charges related to an alleged plot against the resurgence of an independent Sikh homeland in the state of Punjab, which shares its border with Pakistan.
The emergence of Singh, a preacher in the northwestern state of Punjab, where Sikhs form the majority, has reignited discussions about the prospect of an independent Sikh homeland and raised concerns of a potential resurgence of violence reminiscent of the turbulent period of the 1980s and early 1990s.
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