The many shades of Papalpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh’s advisor held after weeks on the run

On March 5, sharing a Facebook video of Amritpal from last year, Papalpreet wrote, “The freshness in the thoughts of Amritpal Singh about Khalistan brought us together. We will stay together with the blessings of God.”

The 38-year-old Papalpreet had been active long before Waris Punjab De came into existence or Amritpal became active on social media. A resident of Marari village in Amritsar district, Papalpreet was earlier arrested for his alleged links to Pakistan’s ISI in 2015.

As his media advisor, Papalpreet had accompanied Amritpal since the latter landed in Amritsar last year. He clicked photos of Amritpal and also shot videos along with fixing interviews with the media. Papalpreet had a huge following on social media, especially on Instagram and Facebook, which came handy for Amritpal.

Booked in sedition case

Then Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) government had booked Papalpreet along with the organisers of the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa in a sedition case for their alleged links with ISI. Sarbat Khalsa was a big gathering organised over sacrilege and other issues in Chabba village of Amritsar district in November 2015. This event, organised by Sikh bodies opposed to the SAD(B), had played a pivotal role in mainstream politics.

The FIR also mentioned the messages read out on the stage of Sarbat Khalsa. “At the gathering, Papalpreet Singh Marari read a provocative message from the dangerous jailed terrorist of Babar Khalsa Narain Singh Chaura. In the same event, one more dangerous convicted terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara was appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht,” reads the FIR, registered at the Chatiwind police station in Amritsar on November 12, 2015, under Indian Penal Code sections 124A, 153A, 153B, 115, 117 and 120B, UAPA section 13(1) and section 66F of the Information Technology Act. The charges related to sedition, promoting enmity between groups, abetting a criminal offence, cyber terrorism and conspiracy.

Police based its claims of the Sarbat Khalsa event’s ISI links on a letter, allegedly put out on social media by Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawa Singh Babbar.

Papalpreet was again arrested in 2016 when police cracked down on the organisers’ attempt to hold a second Sarbat Khalsa at Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda.

Papalpreet holds a three-year polytechnic diploma. He is also said to have run a drive against drug smugglers in 2019. He alleged that police framed him in an attempt-to-murder case for running a drive against drug smugglers.

Papalpreet formed an organisation called the Sikh Youth Front in 2015. Later he joined Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) for a brief period. He also worked as a journalist for web channels and interviewed many former Sikh militants and their family members.

Papalpreet had never hidden his pro-Khalistan inclination. However, he mostly worked in his individual capacity before Waris Punjab De came on the scene.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Karnail Singh Panjoli recently visited his house and extended support to his family. He has a wife, son and parents in his family, which owns farming land.