Amritsar, 16 November 2025 — The state government has suspended Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh for alleged lapses in tackling gangster activities in the district, officials said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann approved the action amid growing concern over criminal incidents and the officer’s inability to curb threats to public safety.
Sources indicated the suspension may also be linked to the recent Tarn Taran bypoll, though senior police officials declined to comment on the connection.
The district has witnessed several high-profile incidents in recent months. On September 12, Ajnala-based doctor Kulwinder Singh was shot inside his hospital after receiving multiple threats. Investigators allege that the attack was orchestrated by gangster Jeewan Fauji, reportedly operating from abroad. Several other threatening calls targeting residents in the area have also been reported.
During the Tarn Taran byelection, CM Mann had promised strict action against gangsters and mafia networks, while AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal highlighted the issue during campaign events. The ruling party and opposition parties accused SAD candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur of allegedly leveraging gangster Amritpal Bath to intimidate voters, sarpanches, and other influential figures.
Authorities confirmed that two fresh cases were registered in Tarn Taran accusing Bath of phone threats to voters. Bath has a history of criminal cases, with 16 registered between 2012 and 2024, including charges of murder and offences under the UAPA.
Maninder Singh, a 2019-batch IPS officer, had led 12 police encounters during his nine-month tenure in Amritsar (Rural). Despite these operations, gangster-related incidents persisted, prompting the state government to take decisive action.
Repeated attempts to contact DIG Sandeep Goel for comments were unsuccessful.
