SDM appointed SAD candidate as mediator in dispute amid poll code

The meeting was to resolve a dispute over land acquisition for the Amritsar-Bathinda national highway.

The Tarn Taran Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Anupreet Kaur allegedly appointed the SAD candidate for the Khadoor Sahib byelection, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, as a mediator in a land dispute after the model code of conduct was imposed in the district.

The meeting, in which Ravinder was made mediator, was however held on January 19, a day before he was announced as the SAD candidate.

The meeting was to resolve a dispute over land acquisition for the Amritsar-Bathinda national highway. It involves 10 Dalits families of Aladinpur village, who have been sitting on a dharna outside Kaur’s office, demanding cash for their homes acquired for the highway.

Amar Singh, representing the Dalit families, alleged that Ravinder Barhampura, the Tarn Taran Planning Development Board chairman and the son of local MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, had even sat on the SDM’s chair. “Ravinder sat on the SDM’s chair while Anupreet Kaur sat in the adjoining chair”. SDM Kaur admitted that Ravinder was at the meeting. “He was there not as a leader but as a citizen. He had solved a similar dispute between families of Pidhi village and the local panchayat. He came in the hope that the families of Aladinpur would also agree,” Anupreet Kaur said.

On the dharna, Kaur said, “These people have been living illegally on panchayat land for the last 30 to 35 years. We are supposed to give cash compensation to the owner and village panchayat is the owner in this case The panchayat had offered to provide them alternate land to construct homes but they want cash. But we cannot pay them legally,” Anupreet said. “On an average, agriculture land is acquired at Rs 70-80 lakh per acre. Commercial land is acquired at almost double the rate and residential plots have been acquired at around 1.10 to 20 crore per acre,” said Anupreet Kaur.

There have, however, been accusations of Anupreet Kaur allegedly favouring SAD, even by the party’s ally, the BJP. When the country’s Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi visited Amritsar on December 29 last year, the BJP’s Tarn Tarn president, Navreet Singh Shafipur, had handed him a written complaint, accusing SDM Kaur of having favoured SAD during the local bodies election last year.
Tarn Taran deputy commissioner B S Dhaliwal said, “I will look into the matter and see if the meeting was a violation of the code of conduct or not.”

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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