Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant development, the Punjab government has approached the Centre requesting that Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh be allowed to remain lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam even after the expiry of his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). The move has been justified on grounds of maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety.
According to official sources, the state government has written to the Union Home Ministry, urging it to obtain consent from the Assam government under the provisions of the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1952, along with relevant amendments. The request seeks permission to continue Amritpal Singh’s stay in the Assam facility beyond the current detention period, which is set to end on April 22, 2026.
Amritpal Singh was arrested on April 23, 2023, following a prolonged manhunt after the Ajnala police station incident. Since then, he has been held in Dibrugarh Jail under NSA provisions, with his detention extended periodically in April 2024 and again in April 2025.
Sources indicate that Punjab Police and intelligence agencies have expressed concerns that his release could potentially disturb the state’s law and order situation. Based on these inputs, the state’s Home Department has recommended that he should continue to be held outside Punjab.
Officials have also pointed out that while several of his associates detained under NSA have already been brought back to Punjab after their detention periods ended, Amritpal Singh’s case is being treated differently due to specific security considerations.
The final decision now rests with the Central Government, which will take a call after consulting the Assam authorities.
