Amritsar (Rural) SSP suspended for ‘failing’ to act against gangsters

The state government has suspended Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh for his alleged failure to take strict action against gangsters.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took the action in view of rising gangster activities in the district and officer’s failure to tackle that. Sources claimed the suspension was also linked to the recent bypoll in the Tarn Taran constituency. However, no senior police official was willing to comment on that.

Maninder Singh is a 2019-batch IPS officer. During his nine-month tenure here, he led 12 police encounters. Despite that, gangster-related incidents continued.

On September 12, Ajnala-based doctor Kulwinder Singh was shot inside his hospital after receiving threats. The attack was allegedly planned by gangster Jeewan Fauji, who is believed to be operating from abroad. Several other threat calls from gangsters were also reported in the area.

DIG Sandeep Goel could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

During the Tarn Taran byelection, CM Mann had promised strict action against gangsters and mafia groups. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also raised the issue during campaigning. Throughout the bypoll period, the ruling party and other political rivals accused SAD candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur of allegedly “using” gangster Amritpal Bath to threaten sarpanches, influential persons and voters.

Two new cases were registered in Tarn Taran district accusing Bath of threatening voters over phone. Bath has 16 police cases registered against him between 2012 and 2024, including that of murder and offences under the UAPA.