Mohammad Izhar Alam

Indian Police official (1948–2021)

Mohammad Izhar Alam
Born	(1948-08-04)4 August 1948 Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Died	6 July 2021(2021-07-06) (aged 72) Malerkotla
Occupation	Police official
Years active	1964–2015
Known for	Alam Sena
Spouse	Farzana Nesara Khatun
Children	5
Awards	Padma Shri

Mohammad Izhar Alam (4 August 1948 – 6 July 2021)^[1] was the director general of police of the state of Punjab.^[2] According to a paper released from the US Embassy in New Delhi on 19 December 2005, during Alam's tenure as the head of the state police, he is reported to have fostered a combat force called "Fauj-e-Alam" (Alam's Army),^[3] composed of around 150 dismissed police officials and reformed Sikh insurgents, to work alongside the Punjab police ranks.^[4] The force is alleged to have been engaged in torture and extrajudicial killings of insurgents from 1984 to 1994.^[4]

After superannuation from the police force, Alam became the chairman of the Wakf Board, the state unit of the Central Wakf Council.^[5] He also entered politics and attempted to contest the 2012 assembly elections from Malerkotla constituency on Akali Dal ticket,^[6] but withdrew when he faced opposition from a faction of the party.^[5] Farzana Nissara Khatoon, his wife,^[7] replaced him in the elections and was successful.^[8] The government of India awarded Alam the fourth-highest civilian honour, Padma Shri, in 1987.^[9]

References

^ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਡੀਜੀਪੀ ਪਦਮਸ੍ਰੀ ਇਜ਼ਹਾਰ ਆਲਮ ਦਾ ਦੇਹਾਂਤ (in Punjabi)
^ Criminal Justice India Series, Volume 8. Allied Publishers. 2002. ISBN 9788177644906.
^ "Sikh Siyasat News". Sikh Siyasat News. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Alam Sena staged encounter killings". Times of India. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Battle of begums in Malerkotla". Hindustan Times. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2015.^{[dead link]}
^ "Mohammad Izhar Alam: a man of contradictions". Indian Express. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^ Karenjot Bhangoo Randhawa (2012). Civil Society in Malerkotla, Punjab: Fostering Resilience Through Religion. Lexington Books. p. 127. ISBN 9780739167373. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^ "Punjab Assembly Election 2012". Empowering India. 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.