Top Cop From Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar Removed After ISI-Jantar Mantar Protest Link Claims

The police chief’s comments were selectively edited, according to the Punjab administration, creating a “wrongful impression” that the arrested individuals were connected to the demonstrators.

The removal of Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar from his position by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government, just days after Bhullar claimed that there was a terror module backed by Pakistan and that it had connections to the Jantar Mantar protests, sparked a political controversy with the BJP regarding the timing of his transfer.

Harmanbir Singh, who is currently DIG Border Range, Amritsar, has taken Bhullar’s position, according to a Punjab Home Affairs Department order dated August 7.

Bhullar would report to the DGP office in accordance with the directive till further instructions were given. Later on, he will receive his posting order.

Nine persons, including four minors had been arrested, according to the Amritsar commissionerate. Three pistols, nine live rounds, and four petrol bottle bombs had also been found. According to the authorities, the suspects were monitoring security installations at the request of ISI handlers located abroad.

The development carries a significance as the police operation unfolded amid heightened attention over the alleged terror plot linked to protests at Jantar Mantar. Bhullar stated in his August 4 briefing that the investigation had shown that some of the detained suspects had gone to Jantar Mantar, carried out surveillance, and purportedly planned to use petrol bombs to target demonstrators.

The police commissioner had not claimed that the accused were involved in the Jantar Mantar protests or that the demonstrators had any connection to the terror cell, according to a clarification later released by the Punjab government.

The police chief’s comments were selectively edited, according to the government, giving the “wrongful impression” that the arrested individuals were connected to the demonstrators.

Bhullar’s transfer, which happened soon after these comments, has now raised questions about whether the controversy around the speech influenced the choice. However, there is no formal proof that the Jantar Mantar comments had anything to do with his transfer.

The action now has a political component as well. Bhullar has been called a “extended arm” of the ruling party and accused of having ties to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by critics of the Punjab government.