Lakha Sidhana also known by birth name Lakhbir Singh is a gangster-turned-activist wanted by the Delhi police in Red Fort violence in Delhi on 26 January. He has been charged with loot, murder, attempt to murder, booth capturing, gang wars and those under the Arms Act. Sidhana was first jailed in 2004 and since then has been behind bars several times. He shot into the limelight in 2017, when he and his supporters' blackened signboards written in Hindi and English in Bathinda over the demand that Punjabi should be the first language on signboards.[1][2] He heads Malwa Youth Federation which claims to do social work in villages.
Early life
Lakha was born in Sidhana a village in Bathinda, Punjab, India into a Sikh family in June 1985 and holds two master’s degrees.[3]
Political career
Sidhana entered politics during the 2012 Punjab Legislative Assembly election and unsuccessfully contested assembly election on a Punjab People's Party (PPP) ticket from Rampura Phul Assembly constituency and left the party a year after.
The farmer unions blamed Sidhan and actor Deep Sidhu[4][5] for instigating riot and hoisting a religious flag on Red Fort during the 2021 Farmers' Republic Day violence.[6] Sadana and Sidhu were also booked by the police.[7] In a preliminary investigation by the police, it said in a statement "there was a pre-conceived and well-coordinated plan to break the agreement between the Delhi Police and the leaders of protesting organizations." Delhi police filed an FIR under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sedition against the personal and farm leaders involved in the rioting.[8][9][10] In February 2021, the Delhi Police announced Template:INR reward for leads on Sidhana.[11]
Delhi Police have booked the Sidhana and Sidhu under IPC sections, 152 (assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), and 307 (attempt to murder).[12]
References
- ↑ Who Are Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana, and Why Are Farmers' Unions Angry With Them?. The Wire.
- ↑ Who is Lakha Sidhana and his role in Red Fort violence. ETV Bharat News.
- ↑ Republic Day violence accused Lakha Sidhana calls rally at CM Amarinder’s ancestral village on Feb 23. Tribuneindia News Service.
- ↑ Farmers had rejected actor Deep Sidhu. The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ↑ Farmer leaders to be charged for sedition; UAPA invoked by police. Hindustan Times(28 January 2021). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ↑ Who Are Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana, and Why Are Farmers' Unions Angry With Them?, Arora, Kusum(28 January 2021).
- ↑ Deep Sidhu, Lakha Sidhana booked for Red Fort violence. Tribune(28 January 2021). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ↑ Tractor parade violence: Case registered under UAPA to probe conspiracy angle. The Tribune(28 January 2021). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ↑ Republic Day violence: Perpetrators will be charged under UAPA, other sections of IPC. India TV(28 January 2021). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ↑ Tension at Delhi border as farmers told to vacate protest site. Times of India(28 January 2021). Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ↑ Delhi Police hunts for R-Day violence conspirators, announces Rs 1 lakh reward on Lakha Sidhana’s arrest. www.timesnownews.com.
- ↑ Who is Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-activist booked for violence at Red Fort?(28 January 2021).