IGP Punjab, Sukhchain Singh Gill on Monday during a press conference announced that National Security Act has been invoked against 5 associates of Amritpal Singh including his uncle Harjit Singh. Waris Punjab De Chief’s uncle Harjit Singh on Sunday surrendered to Punjab Police and will now be sent to Assam. Another breaking development of the case was that Sukhchain Singh Gill stated that Amritpal Singh is also likely to be booked with NSA Act after arrest.
Reportedly, IGP Punjab Sukhchain Singh Gill held a press conference in which he gave major developments about the search operation going on against Amritpal Singh. First, he stated that Amritpal Singh has not been arrested till now and search operation is going on for the same. He further warned people not to believe in fake news being spread. Apart from this, Sukhchain Singh Gill stated that NSA act has been invoked against 5 of Amritpal’s close associates who have been sent to Assam which also includes his uncle Harjit Singh. He added that Amritpal Singh will also be booked with National Security Act after the arrest. Till now, Waris Punjab De Chief has been booked with 6 cases against him.
What is NSA Act?
The National Security Act is an act by the Indian parliament promulgated on September 23, 1980, solving the purpose of preventive detention law. The National Security Act (NSA) allows the central government or a state government to detain a person to prevent him from engaging in any kind of activity that might jeopardise national security. The government may also detain the individual to prevent him from disrupting public order. The period to be detained is twelve months. The extension will take place if the government issues fresh evidence against the individual.
Apart from NSA Act, UAPA Act is also present. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 has made it possible for the Union Government to designate individuals as terrorists without following any formal judicial process. UAPA is also known as the Anti-terror law. However, UAPA is hardly a possibility. Apart from this, Amritpal Singh can also be booked under attempt to murder charges IPC 307 keeping the Ajnala Clash in mind in which multiple Police officers were seriously injured by Waris Punjab De Supporters.
It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the Ajnala Clash had addressed the media and pointed out foreign funding including Pakistan in radical groups. During the conference, Mann had said, "Do you consider 1000 people, Punjab? It's just a few people funded by foreign, by Pakistan...Their masters want to disturb Punjab." However, no charges have been finalized yet.