State scan: Punjab may be seeing a resurgence in extremist Sikh politics

Politicians warn that admiring the problem instead of taking steps to solve it could worsen the situation

Last month’s events in Ajnala, Punjab, were both shocking and mysterious. Supporters of Amritpal Singh, who claims to have “inherited” the leadership of an organisation called Waris Punjab De, broke through barricades and stormed a police station in Ajnala, on the outskirts of Amritsar city, demanding that Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan, an accused in a case of kidnapping, be released. The police capitulated and released Toofan.
 

Former chief minister (CM) and BJP leader Amarinder Singh said: “This is not only a complete collapse of the law and order situation in Punjab, it is more serious than that. The incident has