During Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent roadshow in Cheema village for the Tarn Taran by-election, Gidderbaha MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon made “an appeal on behalf of the villagers” over a “troubling incident of gangster-related violence.”
Dhillon alleged that justice was “yet to be served” for the village following the murder of a former sarpanch, and he urged the chief minister to “ensure justice after the election”.
The victim, Sonu Cheema alias Awan Kumar Khullar, a former sarpanch of Cheema village, was shot dead inside a salon in January 2024. The police later booked alleged gangster Amritpal Singh Bath, a resident of Mianpur village in the Tarn Taran assembly constituency, for the murder.
Neither Dhillon nor CM Mann named Bath during the exchange. Responding to Dhillon’s remarks, Mann assured the gathering of a strict stance on law enforcement. “Strict action will be taken against offenders, and no favours or commissions will be accepted,” he said.
Although both avoided mentioning Bath, Congress leaders, including state party president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, have repeatedly alleged that Bath is the son-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa. Randhawa has three daughters, but only one – Kanchanpreet Kaur – has been visibly active in her campaign. Kanchanpreet Kaur has neither confirmed nor denied any family link to Bath.
In her statements to the media, Kanchanpreet Kaur has accused AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu of “forcing Bath to flee the country.” She further alleged that Sandhu “used to carry Bath in his car” but later “turned against him and implicated him in false cases.” These accusations refer to the period when Sandhu was serving as an MLA during the SAD-BJP government.
According to police records, Bath has 17 criminal cases registered against him – three during the SAD-BJP government when Harmeet Singh Sandhu was MLA, 12 under the Congress government (2017-2022), and two more in 2024, including the murder of Sonu Cheema. The latter cases were lodged before Sandhu joined the AAP.
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In September 2019, Bath was also booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for alleged links with the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force. The police arrested two accomplices – Harjeet Singh and Shamsher Singh – from his native village Mianpur. The arrests led to the seizure of “six weapons, including one 9 mm pistol, four .32 calibre pistols, and a .32 revolver,” along with live ammunition and mobile phones. The police alleged that the group, including Bath and others identified as Shubhdeep Singh, Randeep Singh, Goldy, and Ashu from Karnal, was “planning a major terror attack in Punjab”.
Congress leaders have also accused Bath of “making threatening calls to sarpanches in Tarn Taran” to compel them to vote for Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa.
Political observers note that Randhawa’s political prominence grew following the murder of Sonu Cheema, an influential yet controversial local figure with his own record of serious criminal cases.
A local sympathiser of Bath commented, “Sonu Cheema had created fear among people. That fear disappeared after his murder. It gave Bath the opportunity to mobilise local leaders under the ‘Azad Group,’ which later contested panchayat elections and won in several villages.” The sympathiser added that the group “supported Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh in the parliamentary election,” where he secured “a lead of around 20,000 votes from the Tarn Taran assembly segment.”
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Encouraged by that momentum, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), after losing Harmeet Singh Sandhu to AAP, fielded former school principal Randhawa as their candidate.
Meanwhile, Kanchanpreet Kaur, 32, has consistently “avoided clarifying her relationship” with Amritpal Singh Bath. Her election affidavit as a covering candidate for her mother does not mention her spouse’s name.
The Tarn Taran Assembly constituency fell vacant after the death of sitting AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June 2025. The bypoll for the seat will be held on November 11.
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.
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