3 weeks ago
Amritsar Police Commissioner Transferred Amid Row Over ISI-Jantar Mantar Remarks
A police chief named Gurpreet Singh Bhullar worked in Amritsar, a city in India.
His police force arrested nine people, including four teenagers, over an alleged terror plot.
Police said the suspects took orders from handlers in Pakistan and were paid through an app called Paytm.
On August 4, Bhullar told reporters that some suspects went to Jantar Mantar, a famous protest spot in Delhi.
He said they may have planned to throw petrol bombs at people protesting there.
Some people on social media shared edited parts of his speech and claimed the protesters were connected to the terror group.
The Punjab government said the clips were edited to create a wrong impression and that Bhullar never made that claim.
A few days later, Bhullar was moved to a new job, but the government has not confirmed whether his move was connected to his remarks.
Many people are asking questions because the transfer happened so soon after his speech.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was transferred on August 7, days after his August 4 briefing on an alleged Pakistan ISI-backed terror module.
Police had arrested nine people, including four minors, and recovered three pistols, nine live rounds and four petrol bombs.
Bhullar said some accused visited Delhi's Jantar Mantar, conducted reconnaissance and allegedly planned to attack protesters with petrol bombs.
Punjab Police said selectively edited clips of his remarks created a 'wrongful impression' that the accused were linked to the protesters.
Opposition leaders, including BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu and Congress's Gurjeet Singh Aujla, questioned the transfer's timing, though no official link to his remarks was confirmed.
- Who
- Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Amritsar Police Commissioner, was transferred by the AAP-led Punjab government; DIG Border Range Harmanbir Singh took additional charge, while BJP leaders Ravneet Singh Bittu and RP Singh and Congress leaders Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Raj Kumar Verka questioned the move.
- What
- Bhullar was transferred days after his August 4 briefing on an alleged ISI-backed terror module, amid controversy over whether his remarks linked the accused to the Jantar Mantar protests.
- Where
- Amritsar, Punjab, India; Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where a protest took place on July 20.
- When
- Transfer order dated August 7, 2026, days after the August 4 press briefing.
- Why
- Opposition leaders speculated the controversy over his remarks influenced the decision; the government has not confirmed any link and described the move as administrative.
Opposition (BJP and Congress) and critics
Punjab government and police
Reason for the transfer
Opposition (BJP and Congress) and critics
BJP leaders, including Ravneet Singh Bittu, questioned the timing, asking whether Bhullar's 'accurate revelations' about the Jantar Mantar plot troubled Kejriwal; Bittu alleged Kejriwal wanted the officer who foiled the conspiracy to be removed, while Congress leaders called for an inquiry into the decision.
Punjab government and police
The Punjab government has not confirmed any link between the transfer and the remarks; the order describes the move as administrative and does not mention the Jantar Mantar case, and the Aam Aadmi Party has not commented on the allegations.
Link between the accused and the Jantar Mantar protesters
Opposition (BJP and Congress) and critics
BJP social media posts and leaders used excerpts of the briefing to claim an ISI-backed terror module was operating behind the Jantar Mantar protest; RP Singh alleged the suspects planned bomb blasts and to throw petrol bombs at Parliament.
Punjab government and police
Punjab Police said Bhullar only stated that the accused planned to target protesters; he never said the accused participated in the protests or that the protesters had links with the module.
Handling of Bhullar's remarks on social media
Opposition (BJP and Congress) and critics
BJP uploaded audio clips of Bhullar's statement on August 5 with the caption that an ISI connection to the Jantar Mantar protest had come to light and the police had exposed the module.
Punjab government and police
Police accused the accounts of selective editing, altered background visuals and misleading captions that changed the impression of the original briefing, and said legal action was being taken under the Information Technology Act; the audio and factual content were not morphed.
Key facts
- Transferred official
- Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Amritsar Police Commissioner
- Successor
- DIG Border Range Harmanbir Singh (additional charge)
- Number arrested
- 9 people, including 4 minors
- Items recovered
- 3 pistols, 9 live rounds, 4 petrol bombs
- Alleged handlers
- Pakistan-based handlers linked to the ISI
- Press briefing date
- August 4
- Transfer order date
- August 7
- Government clarification
- Bhullar did not link the accused to protesters; edited clips created a 'wrongful impression'
Quotes
Former Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu
Former Union Minister of State and critic of Punjab government
“He said, “He is an excellent officer and has served under every government. The Police Commissioner had stated in a press conference that some had been caught with petrol bombs. As per my information, Kejriwal had given this responsibility to go to Jantar Mantar, throw petrol bombs at the children, and create terror there. Punjab Police and Bhullar Sahab foiled the conspiracy.””
thestatesman.com
republicworld.com
“"What Bhullar had done was apprehend individuals trained by the ISI who intended to create a disturbance here at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the day of the protest. They planned to carry out bomb blasts and throw petrol bombs at the Parliament. He arrested these individuals and held a press conference regarding the matter."”
republicworld.com
Sources
Amritsar Top Cop Removed After Jantar Mantar Remarks, BJP Questions Timing
Amritsar top cop transferred after audio sparks row over ISI link to Jantar Mantar protest
Amritsar police chief shifted days after terror plot briefing, BJP questions timing
Punjab Transfers Amritsar Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar Amid Row Over Jantar Mantar Remarks
Amritsar top cop Bhullar, who exposed alleged ISI-backed plot to target Jantar Mantar protest, transferred; BJP, Congress slam Punjab govt
Top Cop From Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar Removed After ISI-Jantar Mantar Protest Link Claims
Amritsar CP Gurpreet Bhullar Removed After Jantar Mantar Remarks; BJP Alleges Kejriwal Role
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