Punjab: Grandson of ‘Vir Chakra’ awardee had links with all main gangsters

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, February 19

Gangster Gurmeet Singh Mann, alias Kala Dhanaula, who was killed in an encounter with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police on Sunday, had spread his reign of terror among traders and truck unions in Dhanaula town besides Barnala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Moga and Patiala districts.

Was involved in illegal lottery biz

• Gurmeet Singh Mann acquired reins of the illegal lottery business and liquor smuggling within a few years
• Soon, he became known as ‘Kala (person with dark complexion) Dhanaula (name of his native town)’; 67 cases were registered against him

From being a street goon, Gurmeet Singh Mann, grandson of a “Vir Chakra” winner, acquired reins of the illegal lottery business and liquor smuggling within a few years. Soon, he became known as “Kala (person with dark complexion) Dhanaula (name of his native town)”.

He rose from under the wings of truck union leaders and politicians of the Congress and the SAD to become a gangster. His claim to terror included the long list of police cases despite which he was out on bail. He has been accused of rigging elections or forcing people and leaders to support a particular political party.

While his grandfather Sajjan Singh Mann, a “Vir Chakra” winning soldier, was a respected social activist, Dhanaula and his parents took to politics. His mother Baljit Kaur remained president of the Municipal Council, Dhanaula, representing SAD. Dhanaula and his parents often boasted of connections with senior Akali leaders, although he was facing trial in a murder case.

From 2012, he started organising “darbars” to resolve public disputes. In 2015, Dhanaula allegedly influenced the MC elections despite being lodged in a jail. He, along with his parents and close relatives, won 11 seats in the council. Later, he established close ties with several Congress leaders as well.

Sixtyseven police cases were registered against him out of which, he was acquitted in 27, convicted in five, two FIRs were quashed, declared innocent in one, while he was an undertrial in one case.

He had been on the run after attempting to kill his one-time mentor Surinder Pal Bala, a Congress municipal councillor, and was planning to kill controversial activist Bhana Sidhu. Kala Dhanaula used to operate even from inside the jail, calling up people for extortion money.

On January 6, he attacked Bala and allegedly stripped and beat him before firing several shots at him. Bala, however, survived. Bala’s mentor Malkit Keetu, a truck union leader, was killed in October 2012.

While on the run, Dhanaula called up several traders and businessmen in Dhanaula, Sangrur and Barnala areas for extortion money. A team of the AGTF, led by AIG Sandeep Goel, managed to eliminate him in an encounter. As per the police files, Dhanaula had links with almost all main gangsters, but he largely operated on his own.