Lok Sabha elections 2024: Jailed Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh wins Khadoor Sahib seat
Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh
In the latest development from Punjab, jailed pro-Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh won the Khadoor Sahib constituency by 1,97,120 votes in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, according tothe Election Commission of India. He defeatedCongress leader Kulbir Singh Zira.
The head of the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit contested the elections as an Independent candidate from jail.
He polled404430 votes in the elections, while Zira got207310 votes.
Singh along with nine others was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). He was arrested in April 2023 and is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail.
The Waris Punjab De chief who styles himself to look likethe slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was apprehended after almost a month-long manhunt in Moga's Rode village in April last year.
The Khalistan supporter, in March 2023, had managed to escape police in the Jalandhar district by changing appearances and switching vehicles.
The Punjab Police had last year launched a crackdown following the incident where Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of whom were armed with swords and guns, broke past barricades and stormed into the police station located on the outskirts of Amritsar city.
They engaged in a skirmish with police to free one of Singh's aides Lovepreet Singh Toofan.
He along with his associates were detained under multiple criminal cases, including attempts to murder, attacks on police personnel, spreading disharmony among classes and also creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.
Who won the seat in 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Khadoor Sahib seat was won byCongress' Jasbir Singh Gill.
This year, BJP had fielded Manjit Singh Manna from the constituency, while Congress' Kuldeep Singh Zira contested elections from here.
Laljit Singh Bhullar represented AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominated Virsa Singh Valtoha.
The polling was held in the state of Punjab in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Jun 1.
As per the Election Commission's data, the state's voter turnout was 62.80 per cent. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 per cent.
(With inputs from agencies)