Ex-cop Iqbal Singh Lalpura who arrested Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is National Minority Commission chief

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 8

Few months to go for Punjab elections, the Government on Wednesday appointed Iqbal Singh Lalpura, former IPS officer and one of the three persons handpicked to arrest Sikh secessionist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in April 1981, as chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

Lalpura was an investigating officer for the 1978 Sikh Nirankari clash

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 Lalpura, cop Jarnail Singh Chahal and SDM BS Bhullar. Lalpura currently serves as a member of several social organizations and has authored 14 books highlighting the richness of Sikh religious scriptures.

Some of his books include "Japji Sahib ik vichaar", "Gurbani katha vichaar", "Wangaar", Marde ae Khuda Nanak", "Raaj karega khalsa". Lalpura's upcoming books are "Love, Serve and Protect", "Life with Crime and Criminals" (on his time with militants), "Jagat Guru Baba" and "Tilak Janju -- Manukhuta da Rakha".

During his tenure as an IPS officer, Lalpura served as AIG CID Amritsar; SSP Amritsar City, SSP Tarantarn, SSP Kapurthala and SSP Amritsar Rural. He was also AIG CID Jalandhar. Lalpura joined the BJP in 2012 and was appointed party spokesperson. 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.

He was the one to retrieve the body of police officer AS Atwal from the Golden Temple. “I will work to protect the interests of minorities across the country and am thankful to the government for choosing me for this responsibility,” sadi Lalpura.