GUWAHATI: The self-proclaimed Sikh religious preacher and prominent pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh has initiated an indefinite hunger strike while detained in Dibrugarh jail, Assam on Wednesday, as per media reports.
According to information in the media, he is joined by nine fellow detainees in this protest, which revolves around alleged limitations on their chosen lawyer's visitation rights during their custody.
Outside the prison confines, Amritpal Singh's wife, Kirandeep Kaur, has also commenced a hunger strike in solidarity with her husband and the detainees, who are being held under the National Security Act (NSA).
The primary reason for this hunger strike was the purported denial of access to their preferred lawyer, Rajdev Singh, within the jail premises.
On September 28, the detainees drafted a letter addressed to the Dibrugarh jail Superintendent, articulating their dissatisfaction with the actions of the Amritsar District Commissioner (DC), whom they accused of obstructing Rajdev's jail visitation.
DC Amit Talwar has since clarified that detainees maintain the right to meet with an advocate of their choice as per the detention order, reports stated.
He further explained that Amritpal Singh had already conferred with advocate Navkiran Singh, and now, he was seeking a meeting with Rajdev Khalsa, despite Navkiran having already been granted access.
