Known for his anti-drugs crusade, Khadoor Sahib MP and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s brother, Harpreet Singh, was arrested on Thursday, July 11, with four grams of ICE (crystal methamphetamine) by the Jalandhar Rural Police. The arrest raises questions about the ongoing drug menace and potential political motives.
Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy, was apprehended along with Lovepreet Singh from Cheema Bath village and Sandeep Arora from Haibowal in Ludhiana district, who allegedly supplied the drugs. The duo’s dope test, conducted at Phillaur Civil Hospital, came back positive. A case under sections 22 and 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, has been registered against them at Phillaur police station. Harpreet’s arrest has sparked allegations of political vendetta from Amritpal’s family.
Amritpal Singh, the chief of ‘Waris Punjab De,’ recently made headlines by winning his maiden Lok Sabha election with a historic lead of 178,022 votes in Punjab. In Jallupur Khera, Amritsar, he is revered for his efforts in rescuing youths from drug addiction. Currently, Amritpal is detained in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA). He was granted a four-day bail for his swearing-in ceremony as an MP on July 5th.
The news of Harpreet’s arrest reached the family around 9 pm on Thursday. According to his brother Sukhchain, Harpreet left for some work in the afternoon and was expected to return by evening. When he did not return, and his phone was switched off, the family began to worry. They later learned from sources that he was arrested by Punjab police.
Surinderpal Singh Talabpura, the family’s media liaison officer, suggested a deep conspiracy behind Harpreet’s arrest, alleging it was an attempt by the Punjab and Union government to defame Amritpal. He pointed out Harpreet’s involvement in the recent election campaign and his management of the family’s agricultural work and trucking business in Dubai, emphasizing that Harpreet had no prior police record.
Amritpal’s anti-drugs campaign played a significant role in his electoral success. During the elections, residents of Khadoor Sahib, particularly women, praised his efforts to combat the drug menace that has devastated many lives in Punjab. Voters expressed confidence in his ability to save Punjab’s youth, predicting his landslide victory, which indeed shocked not just the state but the entire nation.
This arrest adds a complex layer to Amritpal Singh’s ongoing battle against drugs and his political journey, highlighting the intricate interplay of law enforcement, politics, and social issues in Punjab.
