Wildly popular during the militancy days, he was known for his independent spirit and boldly kept a respectable distance from Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale which was appreciated as a dare-devil feat by the general public and largely and especially by the bureaucrats and the heavy-handed Punjab Police officers, who not only allowed but even encouraged him to openly carry an AK-47 on his person, turning him into a local version of self-styled sheriff let loose to up-keep law and order in the highly disturbed Punjab in those days of militancy.
During the tumultuous period of militancy, he gained immense popularity for his boldness and ability to keep a safe distance from Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. This was seen as a remarkable feat by the public, bureaucrats, and Punjab Police officers who even allowed him to openly carry an AK-47.