Amritsar (Punjab), April 16: In a notable move following the withdrawal of the National Security Act (NSA), Punjab Police have taken custody of Papalpreet Singh, a close associate of Amritpal Singh—Khadoor Sahib MP and head of 'Waris Punjab De'. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gurvinder Singh confirmed that Papalpreet was presented in court and remanded to police custody until April 18.

Punjab Police had traveled to Dibrugarh on April 9 to take Papalpreet into custody under the NSA. He was previously arrested on April 10 in Hoshiarpur under the same law. The arrest occurred nearly three weeks after supporters of Amritpal Singh stormed the Ajnala police station on February 23, demanding the release of another associate, Lovepreet Toofan.

Papalpreet's family denies the accusations, claiming he did not cause any harm to the police station and only aimed to fight drug abuse in Punjab. His mother, Mandhir Kaur, defended him, saying he promoted the teachings of Sikh Gurus and should be granted bail. His maternal uncle, Amarjeet Singh Wangchadi, argued that only one narrative is being shown to the public. He acknowledged that Papalpreet may have made mistakes but criticized the harsh treatment and transfer under NSA, comparing it to the leniency during the 1984 and Vadodara riots. He also noted that Papalpreet worked as a journalist and once served as an assistant to Bhagwant Mann during the elections.

Papalpreet’s lawyer, Harpal Singh Khara, claimed that even the police and officials lack clarity on the charges. He stated that surveillance footage merely showed two individuals in different cities, with no proof of wrongdoing or damage at the police station. He alleged the police were prolonging the legal process under the guise of remands and investigations to stall the growth of their political movement, calling it a "drama" driven by fear of rising support.