Chandigarh: Fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur, a non-resident Indian (NRI), was stopped from boarding a flight to London by Punjab police at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Thursday afternoon.
According to information, she has a look-out circular (LoC) issued against her. Her husband Amritpal, who also heads ``Waris Punjab De’’ (WPD) outfit, has been on the run since March 18 when the state police had launched a massive crackdown against him and some of the members of WPD.
No evidence against Kirandeep Kaur
As per reports, there is no concrete evidence or FIR against Kirandeep Kaur regarding her involvement in the Babbar Khalsa International group while staying in the UK. She was questioned in March at her husband's ancestral village, Jallupur Kheda, in connection with alleged foreign funding for Amritpal Singh's activities. However, the police did not find any evidence against her.
According to information, Kirandeep Kaur, was stopped by the immigration officials from taking the Air India Amritsar-to-Birmingham flight which departed at 2.30 pm – about an hour behind schedule. She had reported to the immigration counter at the airport around 12.20 pm.
She was sent back to her home in Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar later in the afternoon and asked not to leave without informing the police.
Stating that Kirandeep Kaur was neither detained nor arrested, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Amritsar (rural), Satinder Singh told newspersons that she was only stopped as she is needed for questioning related to the Amritpal’s case.
According to information, Kirandeep’s name had allegedly cropped up in connection with the foreign funding to the WPD outfit, headed by Amritpal. She had, however, denied the charges.
Background of Kirandeep Kaur
Kirandeep, a British citizen, had got married to Amritpal in February this year only and was going to England for the first time after her marriage.
After their marriage, she moved to Amritpal's ancestral village in Punjab, where she currently resides. Kirandeep's family roots are in Jalandhar.
Amritpal Singh and Waris Punjab De
Amritpal Singh took over as the head of Waris Punjab De, the outfit formed by actor-activist Deep Sidhu, before his marriage to Kirandeep Kaur. The police are on a manhunt to nab him since he absconded almost a month ago. CCTV footage has shown that he has been changing his attire and using different modes of transportation to evade the police.
Amritpal along with hundreds of his supporters had stormed the Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, injuring about six police personnel. He demanded release of one of his aides who had been booked in a case of assault and abduction. He has been booked under national security Act (NSA) besides for some other unlawful activities.
However, he had escaped the police crackdown and dragnet in Jalandhar on March 18 by using different vehicles, locations and his appearances. He had reportedly slipped into neighbouring Haryana and later gone to Uttar Pradesh and returned to Punjab on March 28.
Importance of Kirandeep Kaur's detention
Kirandeep Kaur's detention assumes significance in light of her husband's involvement with Waris Punjab De and his subsequent absconding. She has been taken into custody as a precautionary measure, and no case has been registered against her. The police have been unable to apprehend Amritpal Singh, and the investigation is still ongoing.
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