Jailed Khadoor Sahib member of Parliament Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), along with other Panthic groups, on Tuesday declared Mandeep Singh, brother of Sandeep Singh, alias Sunny, who is an accused in the murder case of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri, as its candidate for the Tarn Taran assembly byelection on November 11.
Mandeep’s candidature was announced at a press conference by Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, and representatives of Panthic groups. Besides Mandeep, Sandeep’s wife was also present on the occasion.
“This election in Tarn Taran is not merely a political contest; it is a battle for truth, justice, and against tyranny and oppression. Those who pushed Tarn Taran into the politics of drugs, corruption, and deceit will no longer be given another chance by the people,” Tarsem Singh said.
United Akali Dal (UAD) leader Mohkam Singh was present and backed Mandeep’s candidature.
Earlier, Sandeep Singh’s name was doing the rounds for the bypoll. However, the group resolved to field his elder brother after consulting the family.
Sandeep Singh had on September 10 attacked three former police officers convicted for fake encounters in the Patiala Central Jail. On September 18, one of the victims, former inspector Suba Singh, 83, who was held guilty of a high-profile fake encounter case pertaining to Tarn Taran district, died of the injuries. The other two cops, former DSP Gurbachan Singh and former inspector Inderjit Singh, had suffered injuries in the attack.
{{/usCountry}}Sandeep Singh had on September 10 attacked three former police officers convicted for fake encounters in the Patiala Central Jail. On September 18, one of the victims, former inspector Suba Singh, 83, who was held guilty of a high-profile fake encounter case pertaining to Tarn Taran district, died of the injuries. The other two cops, former DSP Gurbachan Singh and former inspector Inderjit Singh, had suffered injuries in the attack.
{{/usCountry}}He said that in the past, Sikh youth and innocents were brutally targeted, and under government supervision, human rights defenders like Jaswant Singh Khalra and thousands of innocent youths, saints, women, elders, and children were tortured and killed by notorious police officers. “Mandeep is the candidate of the entire Khalsa Panth, through whom the light of Sikh dignity, truth, and service will once again shine on the soil of Tarn Taran”, he added.
All the major political parties have named their candidates for the bypoll.
The ruling AAP has declared three-time MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu as its candidate, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, and the BJP has chosen Harjit Singh Sandhu as its candidate. On Sunday, the Congress named Karanbir Singh Burj as its candidate for the bypoll in the Sikh-dominated constituency that fell vacant after the death of the AAP MLA, Kashmir Singh Sohal, in June.