Virsa Singh Valtoha
Virsa Singh Valtoha is a former SIkh militant and Indian politician belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal party. He is a former member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly who represented Khem Karan.
Family and early life
His father's name is Sohan Singh. Virsa Singh Valtoha's son's name is Mr. Gauravdeep Singh, who is advocate at Punjab And Haryana High Court. He is also the president of SOI from Majha Zone.Valtoha received training in being a granthi, but chose to pursue higher education instead. In 1981 Valtoha was unable to pass first year English examination for his bachelor of arts. Valtoha joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) youth-wing out of frustration, but in 1982 he left and joined the All India Sikh Student Federation instead.
Militancy
After joining the AISSF Valtoha came in contact with Kewal Singh, cousin of AISSF president Amrik Singh, who took him to the Golden Temple. According to Valtoha he began to routinely visit the Temple and grew closer to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He would engage in volunteer work for the AISSF.In November 1982 Harminder Singh Sandhu, AISSF general secretary, asked Valtoha to join a company of youths in throwing bombs at the house of Punjab education minister Harcharan Singh Ajnala. Valtoha would do as asked along with Anokh Singh.
During the Asian Games in 1982 Valtoha and others were given the task to throw leaflets and bombs, but were unsuccessful.
After this incident Valtoha "proved his worth" and he became a regular participant of Bhindranwale's hit squads. In March 1983 Sandhu told Valtoha that a case had been registered against him in relation to an explosion in Delhi. This convinced Valtoha to abandon his studies and to live with Bhindranwale's men in Guru Ram Das Serai. He became an AISSF office secretary as well.
On February 16, 1983, Valtoha and Anokh Singh were sent by Sandhu and Ranjinder Singh Mehta to kill police inspector Bua Dass. Anokh Singh supplied the weapons. Valtoha and Anokh stalked Bua Dass and shot at him as he went on a walk with his brother. Bua Dass would be killed, but Valtoha would not shoot. On hearing Valotha did not fire Bhindwale who "...was otherwise in a very happy mood, felt a little annoyed with me."
On March 5 Sandhu and Satinderjit Singh instructed Valtoha to throw bombs and pamphlets during a non-aligned meet in Delhi. On March 7 Valtoha and others threw pamphlets in multiple places including Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and the letter boxes of the USA and Saudi Arabia embassies. Another group of militants threw bombs at Palika Bazar and Inter-State Bus Terminal injuring 7.
In January 1984 Bhindranwale, in a sign of Valtoha having joined the inner-circle of AISSF, would give Valtoha a .38 revolver. In February Gurinder Singh Bhola, Mathura Singh, Surjeet Singh, and Valtoha attempted to rob Syndicate Bank in Amritsar, but would be unsuccesful.
On March 19, 1984, the AISSF was banned and Harbans Singh Manchanda, president of Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, supported the decision. Amarjeet Singh Chawla, Bhola, and Valtoha were instructed to kill Manchanda in revenge. Valtoha and fellow militants stole a car in Delhi and tailed Manchanda's vehicle on the 28th. As Manchanda had stopped at a red light in his car. Bhola and Valtoha walked to opposite sides and fired at Manchanda. Bhola fired 14 bullets while Valtoha fired 6 killing Manchanda and injuring two other occupants. Bhindranwale was greatly pleased with this and forgave Valtoha of his past discretions.
In May 1984 Valtoha, Bhola, Chawla, Labh Singh, and Dalbir Singh Fauji conspired to kill former Punjab chief minister Darbara Singh to fulfill Bhindranwale's personal wish. The plan would not materialize due to Bhola's arrest. In the same month Amrik Singh, Bhindranwale, and Sandhu plotted to hijack a plane in Srinagar, but would not occur.
Valtoha would be arrested during Operation Bluestar.
Political career
Valtoha first became involved in the All India Sikh Student Federation during the time of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. During this period he was allegedly behind multiple killings and bomb blasts. Valtoha was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Valtoha constituency in 2007. During the 2012 Punjab election, Valtoha constituency underwent boundary delimitation. Valtoha then successfully contested the Punjab Assembly seat from Khem Karan. Valtoha served as an MLA from 2007-2017 and a chief parliamentary secretary from 2012-2017. He was a member of the Akali Dal top-decision making body.Controversies
For using casteist remark
Valtoha has been accused of insulting dalits, by a member of an opposition party in the legislature. Due to a casteist slur by Virsa Singh Valtoha, former Ravidassia M.L.A. Tarlochan Singh Soondh hurled a shoe towards Valtoha in the Punjab State Legislative AssemblyGiani Harpreet Singh also accused Virsa Singh Valtoha of issuing threats to his family, abducting his daughter, and raising caste remarks against him for being a Dalit Sikh.