scorecardresearch
Friday, March 29, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaAt Amritpal’s ‘rehab’, tales of torture & arms training. Sevadars deny claims,...

At Amritpal’s ‘rehab’, tales of torture & arms training. Sevadars deny claims, hail ‘zero relapse’ record

Punjab Police shut down fugitive Amritpal Singh’s ‘de-addiction’ centre earlier this week, calling it a ‘front’ for illegal activities. But unit’s caretakers call it ‘house of god’.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

Jallupur Khera, Amritsar: A hall in a compound next to Baba Kala Mehar gurdwara in Amritsar’s Jallupur Khera village lies vacant, except for shabby mattresses and blankets piled haphazardly in corners, clothes and half-unpacked bags lying around.

On the walls are posters of Punjab’s most-wanted man, Khalistan activist and ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh, alongside those of Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu. All carry messages about “nasha mukti” (freedom from intoxicants).

This is a ‘drug de-addiction centre’ operated by Amritpal, which was shut down by the Punjab Police Tuesday. The ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief, currently on the run, is wanted under the National Security Act (NSA) for activities “prejudicial to the security of India and the maintenance of public order”.

A pile of blankets and mattresses inside the centre | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint
A pile of blankets and mattresses inside the centre | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint

At the centre, which had more than 70 patients when it was still functional, there was no medical equipment, no doctor, consultants or nurses, according to the police. There were three sevadars, who claim to be caretakers, and in place of a doctor, a pharmacist visited twice a week to deliver painkillers, but was never allowed inside the premises.

Inside the complex, there is a common toilet and one open area for a bathroom, while one section was made completely out of bounds by the sevadars. 

A sense of mystery shrouds the building.

According to sources in the Punjab Police, the centre was being run without a licence and was just a “front” for Amritpal, who was “radicalising and brainwashing youngsters” in the name of drug de-addiction and was “encouraging them to pick up arms to join his force and support his cause for Khalistan”.

But people from the village narrate success stories of how Amritpal encouraged people to partake of amrit (nectar) and leave drugs.

On the allegations of weapons’ training at the centre, sevadar Gurmukh Singh told ThePrint: “We have never heard anything more ridiculous. We are sitting in god’s house. Only a complete idiot would believe allegations of weapons being stocked inside. Also, Amritpal is a saint, he doesn’t indulge in these practices. Whatever weapons he carries are all licensed and for his own safety.”

The police, as part of their crackdown on the centre, have arrested 17 people so far, seven of whom, they said, had “picked up arms and moved around with Amritpal as his ‘gunmen’”.

Several Punjab Police teams are searching for the radical preacher, who has been absconding since 18 March when an operation was launched to arrest him and other members of ‘Waris Punjab De’, a social organisation founded by Deep Sidhu.

Amritpal has eight criminal cases registered against him relating to spreading disharmony among people, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants.


Also read: Fiery orator, ‘Bhindranwale 2.0’ — who’s Amritpal Singh, new ‘head’ of Deep Sidhu’s Waris Punjab De


‘Youth misled, secrecy’

Talking about the centre, a police source told ThePrint: “Unemployed youth fell in the drug trap and were misled and misused by Amritpal. Youngsters from different villages, especially from Moga and Gurdaspur areas, would come to him and he would admit them here and then brainwash them to pick up arms.”

“There was no doctor, except for a pharmacist who made occasional visits, no medicines, no facilities for treatment or staff that a drug de-addiction centre must have. It was also running without a licence,” the source said.

Amritpal's 'drug de-addiction centre' | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint
Amritpal’s ‘drug de-addiction centre’ | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint

Speaking to ThePrint, the pharmacist who visited the centre said he was never allowed inside and the complex was “always guarded”. He further claimed that he was asked by the sevadars to carry equipment to measure the patients’ blood pressure and check for fever, which he did twice a week.

“I met Amritpal for the first time in December (2022) in an event. When I introduced myself as a pharmacist, his associates told me that they require some medicines for a de-addiction centre that they run and if I could provide them. I agreed and started taking some painkillers, medicines for nausea and loose motions. They gave me a list,” the pharmacist said, not wanting to be named.

He further alleged that Amritpal’s aides also asked him if he could arrange for Addnok (or buprenorphine, used to treat opioid (morphine) dependence). “It is a medicine that is only available at government-registered de-addiction centres, but I refused. I told them to arrange it themselves,” he added.

According to the pharmacist, the sevadars were very “secretive”.

“No one could go inside and two sevadars were always guarding the place. Whoever had to get their blood pressure checked used to come out,” he said.

Police sources told ThePrint that “the land on which Amritpal had built the centre did not belong to him”.

He had taken it “forcefully” from the gurdwara committee but no one could say anything as Amritpal said he was using the land for a “noble cause”, they added.

‘Thrashed me, pulled out my nails’

According to the police, there were instances where young people had fled the centre after being tortured.

Manjeet Singh Karnawal, a former Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, had joined Amritpal’s de-addiction programme at the centre last December, but ran away within a week after he was allegedly beaten and forced to pick up arms. He even gave a formal complaint to the police in this regard and a case was registered at Kalchian village in Amritsar.

Speaking to ThePrint about what went on inside the centre, Karnawal said: “The de-addiction programme is a sham. They give everyone sleeping pills, Alprax (to treat anxiety) and another red tablet, which is also a drug. If someone resists, they beat them up. I was beaten up mercilessly by Amritpal’s team. They tied me up and thrashed me with rods and sticks. They pulled out my nails and threatened me with dire consequences when I said I would tell the police.”

No one outside that centre knew what was happening inside, he claimed.

Inside the centre | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint
Inside the centre | Photo: Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint

Karnawal further alleged that many young people were asked to pick up weapons. “They gave training on how to use swords, kirpans and even guns. I saw many guns inside the centre, which they used to shift out regularly.”

A senior police officer confirmed to ThePrint that a case had been registered on the complaint of Karnawal, and the matter was still “under investigation”.

‘We have a record of zero relapse’

But the sevadars at the de-addiction centre have a different story to tell. They said they did not rely on medicines or doctors to treat addicts, but stressed on lifestyle changes.

“Over 70-75 people were here. We do not give them any medication but help them leave drugs with lifestyle changes. We give them massages, encourage them to become religious and learn gurbani, and talk about their problems. We also teach them self-control,” Gurmukh Singh told ThePrint.

Ram Singh, another caretaker, said: “We give them langar, teach them to eat together and pray. We bring their lives back on track. Once they start waking up on time and taking a bath, half the battle is won.”

Reacting to the charges of inmates being beaten up or encouraged to take up weapons, Gurmukh Singh said: “This centre is popular because whoever comes here once, remains clean. There are no relapses. So many people have come and gone. We do not keep anyone here against their will.”

The caretakers added that the patients were allowed to move freely in the compound and play several games. “The inmates here play volleyball, badminton, kabbadi and move around freely. They also go for gurbani lessons and meditate,” said Ram Singh, adding: “There is no question of anyone being held hostage or asked to pick up arms.”

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)


Also Read: As Mann says Punjab stands firm on Amritpal crackdown, a look at how radical preacher got long rope for months


Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular