Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s Murder Case: All Major Updates Till Date

Chandigarh: The Punjab Police have claimed a breakthrough in the case of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s murder. Punjab police chief DGP Gaurav Yadav addressed a press conference on October 17, 2024, stating that the “gangster” Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dalla, based abroad, had masterminded the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau.

Police Announce Three Arrests:

The Punjab DGP said that three individuals have been arrested in this case.

“Those arrested have been identified as Bilal Ahmed, alias Fauji; Guramardeep Singh, alias Pontu; and Arshdeep Singh, alias Jhandu. According to information, Gurpreet Singh was shot dead on October 9 this year while returning home from the village Gurudwara on his motorcycle,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav.

He stated that two different modules were used for rakee and murder, which were being managed by different handlers abroad. He indicated that the arrested individuals were part of the rakee module and that the shooters have been identified; the Punjab police are on a manhunt to apprehend them.

Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s Family Suspects Amritpal Singh’s Involvement in the Murder:

On October 16, 2024, Sukhpreet Singh Hari Nau, the cousin of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, released a video message on the “Hari Nau Talks” Facebook page, which Gurpreet Singh managed before his murder. In this video, Sukhpreet Singh was accompanied by Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s parents.

Sukhpreet Singh Hari Nau stated: “I lived with (Khadoor Sahib MP) Amritpal in Dubai from 2018 to 2021, and Gurpreet Singh was also in Dubai during that period. Gurpreet Singh came into contact with Deep Sidhu via social media during the farmers’ protest. When Deep Sidhu formed his organization ‘Waris Punjab De’ in November 2021, Gurpreet Singh was among the nine primary members. After Deep Sidhu’s death, Amritpal Singh came to India, and WPD members, including Gurpreet Singh, appointed him as the new chief. However, differences soon arose between some primary WPD members and Amritpal Singh over ideology.

He further mentioned: “Initially, Gurpreet Singh raised these issues with Amritpal, but when he did not listen, he began expressing his views through social media. Following this, Amritpal Singh’s aides started spreading hate towards him and issued threats. Just a few days before Gurpreet Singh’s murder, some aides of Amritpal Singh threatened him in person. We are convinced that Amritpal Singh and his aides orchestrated Gurpreet Singh’s murder.

“We met with police officials and requested an investigation into the role of Amritpal Singh and his aides in Gurpreet Singh’s murder. Amritpal Singh’s men were continually threatening Gurpreet Singh,” Sukhpreet Singh asserted in the video message.

A single-line title given to the video (in Punjabi) reads: “This aspect must be investigated along with other aspects.”

Amritpal Singh Is Involved in the Conspiracy: claims Punjab Police:

“During investigations, evidence has surfaced indicating the role of Amritpal Singh of Waris Punjab De (WPD) in the murder conspiracy. According to some statements recorded during the investigation, the murder was carried out at the behest of Amritpal Singh. The police will investigate the case based on evidence in a professional manner. All angles and theories of the crime will be examined thoroughly and investigated in accordance with the law,” The New Indian Express quotes Punjab DGP as saying.

DGP Did Not Elaborate Further on Amritpal Singh’s Link to This Case:

DGP Gaurav Yadav did not elaborate on how the investigation exactly links MP Amritpal Singh to this case.

The module arrested by the police, according to the DGP, was involved in rakee. He also stated that different modules were used for rakee and shooting. It remains to be seen whether the police’s claims regarding Amritpal Singh’s involvement are based on the interrogation of the rakee module or the victim’s family’s statements.

DGP, however, stated during his press conference that the investigation was ongoing in this case.

Arsh Dalla’s Audio Surfaces:

Meanwhile, Punjab journalist Ritesh Lakhi, who runs a YouTube channel called Ritesh Lakhi Unplugged, posted an audio clip on his channel, claiming it to be a voice message from Arsh Dalla.

A disclaimer note on the YouTube video/audio, added by Ritesh Lakhi Unplugged Channel, reads: “Gangster Arsh Dalla calls up #RiteshLakhi #Unplugged and informs about the killing of WPD founder member Gurpreet Hari Nau at Village Hari Nau, Faridkot, last week. After Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav’s revelations about gangster Arsh Dalla being behind the killing, Arsh Dalla admits his involvement, albeit for other reasons. The platform is not responsible for the veracity of claims in the voice note received.”

In this audio, the person speaking claims to be Arsh Dalla and takes responsibility for getting Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau killed. He rejects the Punjab police’s claims that MP Amritpal Singh was also involved in the conspiracy to kill Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau.

He states that he had warned Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau regarding another matter. He claimed that when he called Gurpreet Singh to issue a warning, instead of listening, Gurpreet Singh allegedly spoke loudly and insulted him. He alleged that Gurpreet Singh was speaking against Sikh leaders, and he (Arsh Dalla) then warned Gurpreet Singh that he would have him killed. However, he did not clarify which Sikh leaders Gurpreet Singh was speaking against.

Amritpal Singh’s Father Holds a Press Conference:

On October 18, 2024, Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh held a press conference in Amritsar. He began by expressing sympathy for Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s family and demanded that the matter be investigated by a sitting judge. He then stated that Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s family and those close to his family should be properly investigated. He alleged that they (the Hari Nau family and their associates) were instigating “Bhara Maaru Jang” (internal war). He asserted that Amritpal Singh was being targeted because he won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha election earlier this year. He claimed that those criticizing Amritpal Singh are being promoted while his supporters are being targeted. He appealed to the Akal Takht Jathedar to form a panel of retired judges to inquire into the phenomenon of “Bhara Maru Jang” (internal war).

He demanded that the DGP of Punjab be booked for the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, stating that it was the police’s duty to protect him. “If the police had intelligence that there was a threat to Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s life, then it was a significant failure of the police administration that he was killed during the Sarpanch elections when security was heightened and a security operation (Cordoned and Search Operation – CASO) was underway in the state,” said Tarsem Singh.

Police Say More People Are Under Threat:

Punjab DGP stated during his press conference that there is a threat to the lives of more individuals in Punjab. “This group (Arsh Dalla’s group) was planning more killings as well,” The Tribune quotes DGP Gaurav Yadav as saying.

Earlier, Palwinder Singh Talwara, a founding member of the Waris Punjab De group formed by Deep Sidhu, maintained that his life was under threat. He stated that he was being threatened and was being asked to remain silent. However, he did not disclose who was threatening him.

Security Provided to Multiple People in Punjab:

Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) has learned that the police have provided security to certain individuals active in the Sikh sphere following Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s murder. Sources told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that some individuals active in the Sikh sphere were granted security before Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s murder, while others received security afterward.

Waris Punjab De founding member Palwinder Singh Talwara confirmed to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that he was provided security by the police a few months ago. He expressed reluctance to accept the security, but the police advised him to take the threats seriously.

Baba Bakhshish Singh also confirmed that he has been provided security by the police.

Kavishar Pritpal Singh Bargari told Sikh Siyasat News over the phone that he has been granted security by the police. He mentioned that the Faridkot SSP had advised him to maintain security in light of the threats known to them.

Waris Punjab De (WPD) founding members Husandeep Singh and Jagdeep Singh Sarpanch, who were close to Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau and are critics of Amritpal Singh, have also been provided security. They stated that they intend to request the police to withdraw their security as they are simply activists and cannot move around with security.

Advocate Simranjit Singh told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone that on 11 October 2024 (two days after Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau’s murder) authorities approached him to inform about the threat perception to his life and provide him security. He said that he has written a letter to Punjab DGP requesting more information about the threat perception. He said that he will decide about accepting the security cover after he gets necessary details from the authorities.

It is also reported that the security of S. Simranjit Singh Mann has been increased. Some netizens have highlighted this point after S. Simranjit Singh Mann attended a Shaheedi Samagam at village Gadli on October 9, 2024, accompanied by security personnel.