Lakha Sidhana back on cops’ most-wanted list

Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 28

Once a popular kabaddi player, Lakha Sidhana has donned several roles before emerging as one of the two most-wanted persons over the Republic Day violence in New Delhi along with actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu.

By doing social work, the 36-year-old from Bathinda had been trying to erase his image of being a gangster and point-man of some politicians. Seeking prominence for Punjabi language, he had blackened English and Hindi names on the signboards. He had insisted the names should be written in Punjabi on top of the boards.

(Deep Sidhu says Red Fort events now look like a police trap; will join investigation)

Now, he is again a fugitive. The Delhi Police have booked him for inciting and leading the mob that hoisted a religious flag on the Red Fort. In a social media post, Lakha denied the charges saying he was on Outer Ring Road when the alleged incident took place.

According to his close aides, Lakha belongs to Sidhana village in Bathinda. He was a successful kabaddi player.

In college days, he got involved in brawls. He became close to an Akali politician and was allegedly involved in attacks on rival politicians besides incidents of land-grabbing. Later, Lakha claimed he was used and dumped by the politician. As per police records, he formed a gang and was accused of killing a rival gangster, Goldy. He was also booked for land grab, violence and attempt to murder.

In 2012, Sidhana survived a murderous attack and suffered three bullet injuries. Later, he contested the election as a candidate of the People’s Party of Punjab led by Manpreet Singh Badal, who later joined the Congress and is presently Punjab’s Finance Minister.

Lakha had taken to social work in the past two years and helped the poor and needy. He also funded weddings of poor girls. Sidhana could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

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