How The Singhs Punished Gobind Ram

In all of Punjab’s districts, the oppressors were running wild. There was terror amongst the common people. At various places, the brave Singhs too were replying to the oppression. In Malwa, the Singhs killed the murderers of Bhai Balwinder Singh Ganga’s father. In the Majha Zone, Gobind Ram was a constant irritation for the Singhs.

Five Jujhaaroo Jatehbandees of the Panthic Committee had a secret meeting in the Batala area to decide what to do about Gobind Ram. All the Singhs were incensed at his evils and finally, the Khalistan Liberation Force’s Bhai Jugraj Singh Toofan took the responsibility of punishing him.

Bhai Jugraj Singh decalared, “that bloody butcher…progeny of Meer Mannu…he’s going to fly 25 feet high when I’m done with him… But Babio, we have very little atta (meaning flour but a codeword for explosives), if you could help us with that?”

Bhai Gurnam Singh Babbar, chief of the Majha Zone replied, “that’s not a problem Bhai Sahib jee. You’ll get as much atta as you need. Just prepare yourselves to punish that dusht. It doesn’t matter frankly who gets him, but he should not get away.”

After the meeting concluded, I went with Bhai Gurnam Singh and some other Singhs to Sree Amritsar. We had come to have darshan of Sri Darbar Sahib. We left our equipment at one of Bhai Gurnam Singh’s safe-houses and then left. We listened to keertan for some time and then decided to go to the bazaar that evening.

One University student who lived at the safe-house gave his suggestion that we not go out empty-handed as there were security officials everywhere. We came back to the room and armed ourselves. Two Singhs grabbed assault rifles and wrapped shawls around themselves while us three remaining Singhs each took a pistol.

In the bazaar, we saw a car with flashing red lights approaching and Satvinder Singh said, “It looks like the prey is coming by himself…It looks like Gobind Ram! It’s his car at any rate…”

I asked Bhai Gurnam Singh, “Well Jathedar Sahib, what do you think?”

Taking his revolver out, Bhai Gurnam Singh replied, “we’ve finally got an opportunity, what’s there to think about? Let’s do it.”

I looked behind the car and said, “Yes, but who’s going to take care of them?” referring to the jeep filled with security guards.

“You two with the assault rifles go meet the security jeep, us three will take the main man.” With this, Bhai Gurnam Singh began to walk quickly towards Gobind Ram’s Ambassador car. The car was started but parked. Gobind Ram was inside but his son was inside a book store. We hadn’t yet reached Gobind Ram when the two Singhs opened fire on the security jeep.

“Rajan! Run….” Yelled Gobind Ram as he heard the bullets. By this time we three hade begun to shoot his car as well. The driver immediately turned the car around and Gobind Ram began to shoot at us with his service revolver.

With a cry of “Hai! Papa! Gobind Ram’s son fell in the crossfire as he was reaching the car. The driver was wounded but sped away. The security jeep went out of control and smashed into a tomato cart, leaving tomato chutney all over the street. After our magazines were empty, we jumped a wall and hid in a garden.

Satvinder Singh said, “Looks like he got away…”

Bhai Gurnam Singh replied, “It’s possible…are all our Singhs in chardee kalaa?”

“We’re all fine, but the hasty Singhs with their assault rifles haven’t returned yet” I said, worried about their fate. After a little while they returned as well.

“Well Singho, we’ll find out in tomorrow’s newspaper what happened and who’s chutney we made. Now let’s get out of here…” We took Bhai Gurnam Singh’s advice and all left the city for secure locations. The next day, the newspapers all featured the story on Gobind Ram being injured and his son being killed in an attack.

Gobind Ram was transferred to the Jalandhar Police Training Centre. Maybe he considered himself safe at that place, but fate was laughing at this thought of his.

Bhai Jugraj Singh met up with us and complained, “Babio, you havn’t gotten the atta to me?” Bhai Gurnam Singh gave me a bag filled with explosives and sent me to Bhai Jugraj Singh’s hideout. Bhai Jugraj Singh met me with a lot of love.

Bhai Jugraj Singh gave his Fateh and hugged me. He looked at the bag and said, “Our Force is just carrying around guns, this time I’m going to ask for explosives too. I like the Babbars’ style of doing things with bombs.”

I said to Jugraj Singh, “But Khalsa ji, he’s gone and hidden himself in some hole in Jalandhar?”

“That’s no big deal, the Khalsa will go after him. The Guru’s lions can even go to London to get their man.”

The next day we went to another hideout where a young man with a cut beard sat us down. Bhai Jugraj Singh asked, “Well Choohar Singh, Nikka hasn’t returned?” “He’s come bhaji, he came back yesterday. He’s here somewhere…let me check. Oy! Nikkaa! Baba jis here!” At the call, a young Singh who had absolutely no beard came and gave Bhai Toofan a fateh. In a very young age, Bhai Jugraj Singh had developed a very good reputation in the entire area.

“Well friend, where’s your duty these days?” asked Bhai Toofan.

“I’ll tell you Baba ji, but first you should introduce me to the mahapurakh beside you” the young man said, seemingly uncomfortable with my presence.

“Oh, don’t be shy around him. This is our own Singh, Mengha Singh Babbar…I’m going to put you under him…” Said Bhai Jugraj Singh, taking the young man’s hand and putting it in mine.

The young man grasped my hand tightly and said, “there’s never anything to be afraid of, but it’s good to be safe. These day’s I’m posted at Jalandhar, in the Training Centre.”

A few days later, according to the plan, we rented a store near the Training Centre to sell tea and snacks. We hired a cook and arranged for samosas, toast, puri/chholay, etc. We also rented a room in the Dogar colony of the city. Our young friend visited us there every day and this helped prepare him mentally for his job. We taught him about Gurmat’s revolutionary principles. We gave Nikka the job of telling us when we had the opportunity to do our job. The bomb was ready with about 10-12 Kg of explosives attached to a detonator. The bomb in total was about 20 Kg and we stored it in our restaurant with some broken utensils and other garbage.

We wore long kurtas and chaadraas like truck drivers. Amongst the customers that came, we spread the story that we were failed truck drivers who decided to open a restaurant.

How long could Gobind Ram keep us away? One day at around quarter after seven in the evening, Nikka came to us. “Baba ji, today is a great opportunity. Gobind Ram and his gang have gone into the city to see some “Star Show” with dancing movie actors. Most of the police are busy with security.

“And the sentry party?” I asked?

“Baba ji, those low-lifes caught some young girl today and are busy with her now. I managed to slip away. Now’s the time. Go fit the bomb…”

Bhia Jugraj Singh put the bomb in a sack and gave the remote control to me. He put on a Commando uniform and left with Nikka.

“Babbaraa, do ardaas to Sachay Patshaah for our success…” said Bhai Jugraj Singh as he was leaving. It felt as if some 18th century Shaheed was speaking through him.

After about half an hour, Jugraj Singh came back and I asked, “Well Babio, how did it go?”

“Sachay Patshaah did kirpaa. You check the cells for the remote. I fit the bomb under his chair. That Brahmin’s going to fly 25 feet high. Sachay Patshaah, may your Panth have victory!” Bhai Jugraj Singh put his hands together in ardaas.

Now we waited for the dusht to come back. We kept looking at Nikka while sitting in our restaurant. At around 10.30pm, Gobind Ram’s car returned with its siren wailing. We saw Nikka saluting Gobind Ram in the lights, and Gobind Ram got out and began to walk towards his office.

Bhai Toofan grabbed the remote from me and pointed it towards the office. We were within range. We waited for Nikka’s signal and every second same like an epoch.

After about three minutes, our wait ended as Nikka flashed his torch at us. Bhai Jugraj Singh became alert right away. Nikka flashed the torch a second time and Bhai Toofan’s thumb came and rested on the button. When the torch flashed a third time, Bhai Jugraj Singh called on Dashmesh Pita and pressed the button with full force. Like the clap of thunder, “BOOOOMMMM” the bomb exploded. Gobind Ram along with all the things in his office and the office beside his flew at least 50 feet high. Nikka, standing at the gate, yelled “Sat Sree Akaal!” and ran towards us.

Bhai Jugraj Singh yelled at Nikka, “Go back! You’re going to cause us some other problem for us now!”

Because of the explosion, many rooms in the Training Centre were now ablaze. The Centre was filled with screams and wails. All the workers were running around and bumping into each other in terror.

Nikka flashed the victory symbol and said, “Babio, the bastard was going to leave and then I don’t know what happened, he just went straight for his office.” Nikka was having trouble hiding his joy.

Bhai Toofan addressed the both of us, “Ok Nikka, you go back. Bhai Sahib, let’s get out of here.”

“Ballay Babio! What kind of friendship is this? I’m not going to get caught by these butchers! The first thing they’re going to do is start to beat all the guys on sentry duty.” Nikka decided to come with us. All three of us put on Commando uniforms and left the city. A few days later, Nikka was named the Area Commander for Baba Bakala.

Taken from “Tay Deevaa Jagdaa Rahaygaa” by Bhai Amardeep Singh Amar.
Translated by Bhai Balpreet Singh.