Inspector who arrested Bhindranwala becomes chairman of NCM
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Keeping 2022 elections in mind, BJP has appointed former IPS officer of Punjab cadre, Iqbal Singh Lalpura as chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).
Iqbal Singh Lalpura, a Sikh face from Punjab, has a unique life profile where he was among the three-member team of ‘Amritdhari’ (baptised) officers, specially chosen to formally arrest Sikh separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in April 1981. At the time, Bhindranwale agreed to be arrested but demanded that only baptised officers will arrest him. So a three member team was formed to take him in. It included Inspector Iqbal Singh Lalpura (at that time) , cop Jarnail Singh Chahal and SDM BS Bhullar.
During his service in Punjab police, Lalpura who belongs to Anandpur Sahib becomes an IPS officer, through regular promotions. The highlight of his police life was his standing as a principal negotiator with the militants on the behalf of the government of the day. Lalpura served as AIG CID Amritsar for 9 years ( 1987 to 1996); SSP Amritsar (two times) , SSP Tarantarn, SSP Kapurthala.
As per sources, Lalpura was also an investigating officer for the 1978 Sikh Nirankari clash. He was the one to retrieve the body of slain police officer DIG of Jaladhar range AS Atwal from the Golden Temple, in 1983.
Inspector who arrested Bhindranwala becomes chairman of NCM. Lalpura currently serves as a member of several social organizations and has authored many books highlighting the richness of Sikh religious scriptures. “I will work to protect the interests of minorities across the country and am thankful to the government for choosing me for this responsibility,” said Lalpura.
Initially, five religious communities – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) – were notified as minority communities by the Union government. Further through a notification, dated January 27, 2014, Jains were also notified as a minority community.
September 9,2021
