Thousands of Akali Dal Waris Punjab De workers marched to 'gherao' Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh, to press for the release
of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. The workers carried out a massive protest march all the way from Mohali, forcing their way through the heavy police force deployment at the Mohali-Chandigarh border. A large number of the protesters carried posters of Amritpal Singh and the 'Bandhi Singhs' (Sikh prisoners). The jailed MP's father Tarsem Singh was also part of the protest march. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters when they were forcing their way to head towards Mohali to 'gherao' the residence of Punjab Chief Minister. The protesters began their protest from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali and then proceeded towards Mann's residence. Despite police erecting barricades at the Mohali-Chandigarh border, several protesters managed to force their way and proceeded towards the chief minister's residence. One of the protesters even climbed atop the water cannon vehicle of police. The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De has been seeking release of Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail in the 2023 Ajnala Police Station attack case. Earlier, his detention under the National Security Act ended on April 22. 'Bandi Singhs' are those Sikh prisoners who were convicted for being involved in militancy during the Punjab insurgency in the 1990s. Several Sikh bodies claim that 'Bandi Singhs' are those Sikh prisoners who were in jails even after completion of their sentences. (With PTI inputs)
