Chandigarh Police have arrested Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann after a protest by Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (QIM) supporters turned violent on Independence Day. Police have booked 21 people in connection with the incident, including Mann's son Emaan Singh Mann.
The protest turned violent when supporters tried to force their way into the city, defying prohibitory orders in place for the national holiday.
How Simranjit Mann Was Caught After Alleged Disguise Attempt
According to The Tribune, Mann allegedly disguised himself as a patient with his head wrapped in bandages and sat in an ambulance to slip past the security cordon near Punjab Lok Bhawan in Sector 6. The ruse did not work — police took him into custody along with three others: Dpinder Partap Singh, Gopal Singh, and Gurpreet Singh.
Police sources said protesters attacked policemen and tried to breach multiple layers of barricades during the march toward Punjab Lok Bhawan. The situation required police intervention to restore order.
FIR Registered and 21 People Booked in Chandigarh Protest Case
A case, FIR Number 96, was registered at Police Station North in connection with the violence. The FIR covers the 21 people booked, which includes both Simranjit Singh Mann and his son Emaan Singh Mann.
The bookings follow the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha's attempt to hold a protest in Chandigarh despite prohibitory orders. The protest was part of the group's ongoing agitation, and the Independence Day timing added to the security concerns.
"Chandigarh Police have booked 21 people, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and his son Emaan Singh Mann, after supporters of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (QIM) tried to force their way into the city on Independence Day." — The Tribune
What Led to the Violent Turn in the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha Stir
The protest was planned as a march toward Punjab Lok Bhawan, but it escalated when demonstrators clashed with police. According to The Tribune's official X post, the stir turned violent on Independence Day, leading to the arrests and bookings.
The decision to book 21 people, including the senior leader and his son, signals that authorities are treating the incident seriously. The use of an ambulance as a potential disguise also raises questions about the lengths protesters were willing to go to bypass security.
- Protesters attacked policemen during the march, according to police sources
- Multiple layers of barricades were breached before police regained control
- Mann was arrested near Punjab Lok Bhawan, Sector 6, in Chandigarh
- Three others were taken into custody alongside Mann at the same location
Our Take: Disguise Stunt Undermines Protest Credibility
To put it plainly, the alleged disguise attempt by Simranjit Singh Mann is a serious misstep. A political leader wrapped in bandages, hiding in an ambulance to dodge police, does not look like peaceful protest — it looks like an attempt to evade the law. This undercuts whatever message the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha wanted to send.
The violence on Independence Day is also hard to justify. Protesting is a democratic right, but attacking policemen and breaching barricades crosses a clear line. Police had issued prohibitory orders, and the group chose to defy them.
For the public, this incident is a reminder that protests must stay within legal bounds. The booking of 21 people, including a prominent leader and his son, shows that no one is above the law. The courts will now decide the merits of the case, but the optics of a leader in a fake patient disguise will be hard to shake off.
In our view, this episode damages the credibility of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha's cause. If the group believes its demands are just, it should pursue them through lawful means — not through violence and disguises on a national holiday.
