Iqbal Singh Lalpura

Iqbal Singh Lalpura (born 7 February 1953) is a former IPS officer and Indian politician. He served as chairman of India's National Commission for Minorities He is known for the arrest of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Lalpura was an investigating officer for the 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash.

Early life and career Lalpura, a member of the Sikh community, hails from Punjab.

Throughout his law enforcement career, Lalpura held key positions in Punjab's border districts, including DIG Punjab Police, SSP Amritsar, SSP Tarantaran, SSP Kapurthala and Additional Inspector General CID Amritsar. He received several awards, including the President's Police Medal and the Police Medal for Meritorious Services. He also served FBI in USA as an expert on militancy

Awards

S. Lalpura was conferred Shiromani Sahitkar award in 2006 by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sri Akal Takht Sahib on the occasion of the 400th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

It was he who began the project of cleaning the Kali Bein River in Kapurthala in 1997-98 and in January 2000 was instrumental in ensuring that the fresh water flows from Buddhu Barkat Canal into Bein river. He was honoured with 'The Sikh of the Year' award in 2017 by the Chief Khalsa Diwan. Besides, he was felicitated with an Honorary Doctorate by the Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo.

Controversy Lalpura faced criticism from Harjinder Singh Dhami, Chief of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), who accused him of allegedly working against the interests of the Akali Dal candidate, adding a political dimension to his role as Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities.

On 2 November 2022, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) formally requested the President to dismiss National Commission for Minorities chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura from his position, citing concerns of interference in the religious affairs of the Sikh community. The SAD accused Lalpura of attempting to disrupt the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), a prominent Sikh religious organization. This move by the SAD reflects their strong objection to what they perceive as undue interference in Sikh religious matters by a government-appointed official.

Personal life S. Lalpura hails from Punjab's Ropar district. His son Ajayveer Singh stated that his father had humble beginnings as he rose from a modest house in the backward area, deprived of the love of his father S. Sarwan Singh Lalpura who had died, and rose to become IPS officer and afterwards attaining Cabinet rank in the Union Government. All this became possible due to the blessings of Almighty Akalpurkh and the support of his family including his better half Hardeep Kaur, Daughter Jasmine Kaur Nijjar. He also has 6 grandchildren namely Baani Sukhamrit Kaur, Dilnoor Kaur, Amreen Amrit Kaur, Hargun Kaur, Himmat vir Singh and Harfateh Vir Singh