<p>Just a Khalistan sympathiser or is he really Bhindranwale 2.0? If optics were everything, Amritpal Singh, with his flowing white robes, navy blue turban and fiery speech, the answer would be easy.</p>.<p>For the moment, however, the 29-year-old radical preacher at the volatile centre of the storming of a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar city by hundreds of armed men is the name who has taken on the government - both the state and the Centre. And thus forcing the establishment to cave in and release a key aide and issuing threats to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.</p>.<p>Amritpal Singh has been quite active in Punjab for some time. On Thursday, the 29-year-old's supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and stormed the Ajnala police station, demanding that Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan, an accused in a case involving kidnapping, be released.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/amritpal-singhs-aide-lovepreet-walks-out-of-amritsar-jail-day-after-storming-of-police-station-1194498.html" target="_blank">Amritpal Singh's aide Lovepreet walks out of Amritsar jail, day after storming of police station</a></strong></p>.<p>A few policemen were injured during the clash, according to officials.</p>.<p>A case was registered against Amritpal Singh and his 30 supporters for allegedly kidnapping and thrashing Barinder Singh, a resident of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.</p>.<p>The Dubai-returned Amritpal Singh, often described as a Khalistan sympathiser, was recently anointed the head of 'Waris Punjab De', the organisation founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.</p>.<p>The event was held at Rode in Moga district, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.</p>.<p>Earlier, Amritpal Singh worked in his family-owned transport business. He was made the head of the organisation that Sidhu had formed to "protect the rights of Punjab and raise social issues".</p>.<p>Amritpal Singh, who claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, has made some controversial speeches during the past few weeks.</p>.<p>Hailing from Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, he moves around with armed men like slain militant Bhindranwale. Some of his supporters call him "Bhindranwale 2.0”.</p>.<p>The preacher reportedly issued a threat to Shah recently, saying he will meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, he tied the knot with UK-based NRI, Kirandeep Kaur, in a simple ceremony at Jallupur Khera, his native village here.</p>.<p>When asked whether he will stay in Amritsar with his NRI wife -- as he has been asking youths not to go abroad -- Amritpal Singh said his marriage was an example of reverse migration, noting that he and his wife will remain in Punjab.</p>
<p>Just a Khalistan sympathiser or is he really Bhindranwale 2.0? If optics were everything, Amritpal Singh, with his flowing white robes, navy blue turban and fiery speech, the answer would be easy.</p>.<p>For the moment, however, the 29-year-old radical preacher at the volatile centre of the storming of a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar city by hundreds of armed men is the name who has taken on the government - both the state and the Centre. And thus forcing the establishment to cave in and release a key aide and issuing threats to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.</p>.<p>Amritpal Singh has been quite active in Punjab for some time. On Thursday, the 29-year-old's supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and stormed the Ajnala police station, demanding that Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan, an accused in a case involving kidnapping, be released.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/amritpal-singhs-aide-lovepreet-walks-out-of-amritsar-jail-day-after-storming-of-police-station-1194498.html" target="_blank">Amritpal Singh's aide Lovepreet walks out of Amritsar jail, day after storming of police station</a></strong></p>.<p>A few policemen were injured during the clash, according to officials.</p>.<p>A case was registered against Amritpal Singh and his 30 supporters for allegedly kidnapping and thrashing Barinder Singh, a resident of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district.</p>.<p>The Dubai-returned Amritpal Singh, often described as a Khalistan sympathiser, was recently anointed the head of 'Waris Punjab De', the organisation founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February last year.</p>.<p>The event was held at Rode in Moga district, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.</p>.<p>Earlier, Amritpal Singh worked in his family-owned transport business. He was made the head of the organisation that Sidhu had formed to "protect the rights of Punjab and raise social issues".</p>.<p>Amritpal Singh, who claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, has made some controversial speeches during the past few weeks.</p>.<p>Hailing from Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, he moves around with armed men like slain militant Bhindranwale. Some of his supporters call him "Bhindranwale 2.0”.</p>.<p>The preacher reportedly issued a threat to Shah recently, saying he will meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, he tied the knot with UK-based NRI, Kirandeep Kaur, in a simple ceremony at Jallupur Khera, his native village here.</p>.<p>When asked whether he will stay in Amritsar with his NRI wife -- as he has been asking youths not to go abroad -- Amritpal Singh said his marriage was an example of reverse migration, noting that he and his wife will remain in Punjab.</p>