Inspector who arrested Bhindranwale now trying his luck in poll playground as BJP candidate

Inspector who arrested Bhindranwale now trying his luck in poll playground as BJP candidate

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

Keeping aside his Hindutava face, Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) has fielded many Sikh faces for the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab.

Iqbal Singh Lalpura is one of the Sikh face, contesting upcoming Punjab assembly elections, has been fielded by Bharitya Janta Party (BJP) from Rupnagar (Ropar) assembly constituency. He is a retired IPS officer and a native of Anandpur Sahib. He has authored many books highlighting the richness of Sikh religious scriptures.

Earlier, keeping 2022 elections in mind, BJP had appointed former IPS officer of Punjab cadre, Iqbal Singh Lalpura as chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in September 2021.

After announcement of his candidature for Ropar assembly seat, Lalpura submitted his resignation to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, who accepted his resignation as Chairman, National Commission of Minorities. He remained NCM chairman for around four and a half months.

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.

Inspector who arrested Bhindranwale now trying his luck in poll playground . 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.

Inspector who arrested Bhindranwala becomes chairman of NCM

February 11,2022