Punjab police officer who arrested Bhindranwala becomes chairman of NCM
Bahadurjit Singh/ Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
The Union government has re-appointed Iqbal Singh Lalpura (retired IPS) as the Chairman of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for a term of three years.
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.
It may be mentioned that Lalpura,who belongs to Lalpur village in Rupnagar district had resigned from the post before the assembly election in Punjab. He had unsuccessfully contested the assembly election on BJP ticket from Rupnagar constituency and lost to AAP’s Dinesh Chadha.
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 Village Lalpura, Anandpur Sahib , Rupnagar district becomes an IPS officer, through regular promotions.
As per available information, 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.
Punjab police officer who arrested Bhindranwala becomes chairman of NCM. Lalpura 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.
April 13,2002
