Shaheed Bhai Balwinder Singh Jattana Babbar

Shaheed Bhai Balwinder Singh Jattana Babbar was one of the Sikh Liberation Movement’s heroes, who struggled endlessly to end the looting and subjugation of Punjab. Bhai Sahib was a dedicated and determined Naujavaan – steadfast on his principles – who made the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of the Sikh Kaum. At the young age of 25, Bhai Balwinder Singh left the peace of his own home and his education to to fight for an independent Sikh homeland. Bhai Sahib entered the battlefield fearlessly and quickly rose to prominence in the Malwa region of Punjab. Recognizing his leadership qualities and his Gursikhi Jeevan, Bhai Balwinder Singh was soon established as Babbar Khalsa’s Malwa Area Commander.

Shaheed Bhai Charanjit Singh 'Channa' Babbar

Bhai Balwinder Singh and his companions, such as, Jathedar Bhagat Singh Bhagta (Ropar), Bhai Harmeet Singh Bhaowal and Bhai Charanjeet Singh ‘Channa’ were responsible for many courageous actions in their area and struck fear in the hearts of the police. One such action took place on July 23, 1990 in Chandigarh’s Sector 26 at the SYL Canal’s head office.

Since the British colonizers made their exit from the Indian subcontinent and transferred power to India’s Brahmin, “free” Hindu India has oppressed, looted and exploited the people of Punjab unceasingly. One such scheme to cripple the Sikh’s of Punjab economically and ecologically, was to divert and steal Punjab’s river water. With this end in mind, the Satluj-Yamuna-Link canal was proposed in 1982 to carry Punjab’s river water to neighboring Haryana and despite the democratic protest of Punjab’s people, construction of the project began over the next few years. Remembering the words of Guru Gobind Singh Jee that, “when all peaceful means fail, it is righteous to raise the sword,” Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, Bhai Jagtar Singh Panjola, Bhai Balbir Singh Fauji and Bhai Harmeet Singh Bhaowal decided to stop the looting of Punjab’s resources “by any means necessary.”

On the morning of the 23rd, all four of the Guru’s Singhs approached the head office on scooters while the chief engineers of the SYL project held a meeting on the second floor of the building. The jatha of Babbar’s entered the office casually and made their way to the meeting place with silenced pistols. Like lightning, they struck – eliminating M.S. Sikri and Avtar Aulakh, the engineers who were collaborating with the Brahmin Sarkar to loot Punjab’s resources and livelihood. Just as casually as they had entered, the Singhs walked out of the office and left on the same scooters they had come on. The government was shaken by the audacity of the action and immediately halted the SYL project.

Shaheed Bhai Balwinder Singh Jattana & Family Members

On August 29th of the following summer, Jujharoo Singhs attacked SSP Sumedh Saini, killing his driver and bodyguard. Saini survived the attack with few injuries and his suspicion immediately fell on Bhai Balwinder Singh. In an act of revenge, Saini sent his group of police cat Nangs, led by Ajit Poohla, to Bhai Balwinder Singh’s village home in Jatana. Upon arriving they found Bhai Sahib’s 80 year old grandmother, 40 year old aunt, 13 year old cousin and his 5 year old nephew suffering from polio. Nang Poohla and his cronies, proceeded to murder all four family members and burnt their bodies along with the home. Illustrating his unshakable dedication to the liberation struggle, when Bhai Sahib learned of the attack, he remained calm and said, “Their plan is to divert us from the path of freedom. They kill our families and expect us to kill innocent people (Hindus) in return. Sikhs do not kill anyone out of anger. We will be harming the movement by resorting to the police’s tactics.”

It was a few days later, on September 4, 1991, that an informer alerted the police of Bhai Sahib’s whereabouts – hoping to collect the Rs. 16 lakh reward on his head. It was the afternoon of the fourth when Bhai Balwinder Singh and Bhai Charanjeet Singh ‘Channa’ were driving towards Sadhugarh village when they saw a police checkpoint. They abruptly turned their jeep around and ran into nearby fields for an encounter with the police. Both Singh’s had very little ammunition and were soon martyred by the police.

Shaheeds: Bhai Balwinder Singh Jattana Babbar & Bhai Charanjeet Singh 'Channa' Bhog announcement

It’s this blood that has watered the fertile Land of Five Rivers that invigorates us to continue our struggle and never give up in the face of the oppressor. As Punjab’s waters are continuously looted, our land and resources stolen and our people butchered mercilessly, we must look to our history for guidance and inspiration to continue our fight for Azadi. Khalistan is our manzil and no matter how hard the Brahmin sarkar tries to break us or the cowards try to sway us… Jang jari rahegi…

“Our struggle will continue as long as a handful of men, be they foreign or native, or both in collaboration with each other, continue to exploit the labour and resources of our people. Nothing shall deter us from this path.”
-Kartar Singh Sarabha

Singh Soorme: Issue 3

Singh Soorme issue 3 features articles on Singhs from the Babbar Khalsa Jathebandi, including unseen and rare pictures with Jeevanis written from first hand accounts of former Babbar Khalsa Singhs.

Features articles on:

1978 Massacres
Formation of Babbar Khalsa
Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar
Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar
Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar
Master Sukhwinder Singh Babbar

Clearing misconceptions regarding Sant Jarnail Singh’s Jatha vs Babbar Singhs

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To order a copy of the magazine, please make a donation (to cover postage and packing) of £3 (UK) or £5 (rest of the world).

SinghSoorme issue 3 sold out

Shaheed Bhai Charat Singh Babbar

During the Sikh struggle for independance, the courageous Jujharoo Singh’s carried out numerous action which resulted in sleepless nights for the Delhi rulers. One such action worth mentioning took place as Shaheed Bhai Charat Singh Babbar re-enacted the history of Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh.

It was in the year 1990/1991, fake encounters by the Punjab Police had become routine. Bhai Charat Singh had decided to tackle the security forces head on and assembled a squad of Babbar Khalsa Jujharoo’s. Around 4pm the group set up a roadblock on en-route from GT Road (Amritsar) to Batala Road and challenged the CRPF and Punjab Police to a real encounter.

2-3 hours had elapsed yet not a single Punjab Police or BSF/CRPF vehicle had passed by. Bhai Charat Singh spoke out to the Singhs and said “Now we are going to collect tax for Khalistan” the Singhs asked “How are we going to do that?” Bhai Charat Singh said for each car that passes the owner must pay 5 rupees tax and a 2 rupees charge for each truck driver. This was to send a message to the government that Jujharoo rule had been established and the Singh’s were openly collecting tax.

According to eye-witness sources, truck drivers and car drivers were gladly paying the tax, in fact many where handing 100 rupee notes and suggesting to the Singh’s that the tax amount’s are too low, and that they should be raised. Bhai Charat Singh re-iterated the reasons behind the “taxing” and said we are only doing this to show the Punjab Police and Hindustan Government that the heirs to Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh’s legacy are still alive.

Bhai Charat Singh then sent a written challenge to Sadar police station, Batala, stating that the Singh’s had blocked off the road, if your force is brave enough then come and face us. When this letter had no effect, Bhai Charat Singh had another letter delivered, this time to the area’s infamous and brutal police officer, Ajaib Singh. Upon reading Bhai Charat Singh’s written challenge, Ajaib Singh immediately called his superiors requesting CRPF forces to be deployed alongside the Punjab Police.

Hindustani Secutiy Forces

As the CRPF forces and Punjab Police where heading towards the Singh’s, an argument broke out as to who should be leading the charge, with neither wanting to be the first to face the Babbar Singhs. Eventually they decided that 2 cars (1 of Punjab Police and 1 of the CRPF) would lead and 30-40 cars of both forces combined following.

By this time the Singh’s, who had been waiting for a long a time decided to lift the roadblock and head back to their base. As the Singh’s were walking back, in the distance they noticed the flashing lights of the Punjab Police cars. The Singh’s began running back to the roadblock spot, and opened fire directed at the leading 2 vehicles. The number of security forces injured or killed in this firing is not known, however the ponds of blood on GT Road was compelling evidence suggesting a high number of casualites. The security forces were caught by surprise and could not pluck up the courage to even return fire at the Babbar Singhs.

According to one source, one of the police officers from the leading vehicles tried launching a grenade at the Singhs, however such was the fear in his mind, that the grenade dropped from his hand into his own car causing it to explode. Upon seeing the heavy damage the leading cars had suffered, the 30-40 vehicles which where following, fearing for their lives, decided to retreat and sped off in the opposite direction.

Shaheed Bhai Charat Singh Babbar

THIS was a REAL encounter in which the State Forces came up against the fearless Singhs of Sri Guru Gobind Singh.

Excerpt from Khalsa Fatehnama Magazine article on Shaheed Bhai Charat Singh Babbar
written by Baljit Singh Khalsa, translated by NeverForget84.com

Shaheed Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar

One day Bhai Sahib was arrested by Vairoval Police in the Amritsar area. For many days Bhai Sahib was kept hanging upside down in the police station. Foot-long metal rods were heated up and hammered into his legs, from the heels upward. A pin was put through his private parts and an electricity connection was attached to it so that he could be shocked. Hot metal rods were also passed through his chest. But the Guru’s Singh took the tortures calmly. All the torturers heard was “Vahiguru”. No cries of pain, no screams.

After the torture, Bhai Sahib was left on the ground, unable to move. The time for Rehraas arrived. Bhai Sahib opened his eyelids but the sockets that held his eyes were hollow. His beautiful beard was soaked in blood. Those eyes which were once lost in deep meditation had been taken out by the dushts.

Bhai Sahib called out, “Sentry! Bhai Sahib Ji, what time is it?” He felt around himself with his hands to find the guard.

“It’s 7.15 Babio. What? What has happend to your eyes??”

The Sentry looked at Bhai Sahib’s face and felt frightened.

“Oh, it must be time for Sodar then. Sodar tera kayhaa…” Bhai Anokh Singh began to recite Rehraas Sahib lying on the ground. Even though his body was shattered, Bhai Sahib recited the paath in a sweet voice. The Sentry too felt the vairaag.

After Sodar, Bhai Sahib, still lying on the ground began Ardaas. It was a daily part of his routine. “Ten Gurus, Punj Pyaaray, Chaar Sahibzaaday, The Guru’s Jhanday and Boongay…” Bhai Sahib then began his personal ardaas: “Hay Akaal Purakh Suchay Paatshah Guru Nanak dev Gareeb Nivaaj Satguru, the day which rose in your bhaaNaa has passed in happiness, meditating on your naam. Suchay Paatshah, night has arrived, may it too pass while remembering your Naam and in your BhaaNaa….Satguru, May I be a Shaheed…Suchay Patshaah, save me from becoming a traitor…Satguru, may the Sikhi and kesh you have given me last with me till my final breaths…Such Paatshah, have mercy on all…. Bolay So Nihaal…Sat Sree Akaal!!”

The Jaikara Bhai Sahib sounded echoed throughout the police station. The Sentry ran to the station-head and surrendered his rifle and tabled his resignation.

“I can’t do this job that forces people to kill saints…I can’t…” He kept repeating himself.

The SSP cursed, “They are all magicians… another of our officers has left the service because of this paath!!”

And then another atrocity was committed. Bhai Sahib’s tongue was cut off using a metal cutting saw. Streams of blood flowed from Bhai Sahib’s mouth but the faithful Singh raised his hands in Ardaas and thanked Vahiguru.

In the end, the police became tired of all this and shot Bhai Sahib in the station. When the shot was fired, a motor cycle was started so that the gun could not be heard. Over night, Bhai Sahib’s body was thrown into the river Beas.

When the news of Gobind Ram’s challenge came to Bhai Karam Singh, Bhai Sahib published a reply in the daily newspapers. He wrote,

“Next Tuesday we will be coming to the bridge at the Nasarkay stream. I will wait for you all day. We’ll have our battle there. You’re harassing innocent people for nothing and this fight is between the two of us. You come with your government’s force and I’ll come with my Guru’s Babbar force. I’ll come with the support of my Guru and you can come with the support of your government and its machinery. Why are you needlessly killing innocent mothers’ sons? Gobind Ram, it’s true that not every jungle has a lion in it, but sometimes, you enter a den filled with just lions. And then a dog of the government, like you, can’t find any way to run. You must come. The weapons in the hands of the Khalsa will wait for you all day.

In eagerness to meet you and test your mettle, Guru Panth Daa Daas,

Karam Singh (Babbar Khalsa)”

Bhai Sahib’s announcement terrified Gobind Ram. For days, he refused to even look towards the assigned place the Singhs had announced. The Singhs were eager to avenge the death of Patloo Singh and punish Gobind Ram and his butchers.

In these days, another incident took place. Two secret Babbar workers were arrested from Mehta Chowk. They were remanded to Gobind Ram’s custody where he brutally killed them. Along with those two Singhs, three other completely innocent youths were also killed. One young boy was a student of the twelfth grade and was the only brother of four sisters. All five Singhs were killed in a fake encounter. The young boy was just 16 years old. His mother cried herself blind.

The Singhs in Batala Police District were completely enraged. One day, our entire Jatha was staying in village Dalaer Khurd. Gobind Ram’s gang, with orange dastaars tied on their heads and Klashnikov rifles in their hands entered the village. One resident of the village, Malkeet Singh had arranged the marriage of his daughter and the gang of 20 goons entered into his home. The people at home thought they were Singhs and gave them food to eat. After eating their fill, the leader of the Black Cat party, Jasvinder Singh Kala explained why he had come. (Black Cats were gangs used by Punjab Police to defame Singhs. They dressed up like Singhs but did horrendous crimes so that normal village-people would turn against the movement).

Kala asked, “Who’s the owner of this house?”

Malkeet Singh replied, “Uh…Baba ji….yes…I understand you’re Singhs…” He was terrified. He was begging Guru ji to save him from these people as he had no idea who they were.

Kala shamelessly replied with a terrifying laugh, “Yeah…absolutely right. Babas…Khalistani Babas. HAHAHA” His other goons also began to laugh.

“Ok then. Give us all the girl’s jewelry and any other valuables.” He loaded his rifle and pointed it at Malkeet Singh.

“But Baba ji…I’m poor…how will I marry off my daughter?”

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of that. You just bring us the goods. You don’t want us to make you Khalistan?” He put the barrel against the owner’s back. Malkeet Singh took all the valuables in his home and handed them over.

“Ok, now to take care of your daughter, right? We forgot all about that didn’t we?” Kala grabbed the girl, who standing inside, by the arm and threw her on the bed which was going to be given at her marriage. The girl began to scream.

Malkeet Singh pleaded, “Baba ji, you asked for what you wanted and we gave it to you. We considered you Guru’s Singhs and respected you…but please don’t do this…for Guru’s sake!” In the meantime, the fifteen year old son of the house went inside and grabbed a pitchfork which he thrust into the stomach of one of Kala’s thugs. Another gang member immediately shot the boy who fell dead on the spot.

Our entire Jatha heard the sound of the bullets. We were coincidentally only a few houses away from where Kala was so our entire Jatha of 20-25 Singhs went to where we heard the noise. We saw the naked girl lying on the bed and the blood soaked body of the young boy and we understood what was going on.

One Singh in the Jatha yelled out, “Oy! That’s Kala, one of Gobind Ram’s Cats…!!”

Bhai Karam Singh bellowed, “Family members, go hide inside. We’ll take care of this. Kill the gang but I want Kala alive! Start the attack!!”

All the Babbars opened fire and our rifles began to spit fire. The family members had no idea what was going on, but all ran and hid. Kala’s gang also opened fire in which two Singhs were injured. The Singhs were yelling “Akaal!! Akaal!!” and spraying bullets. Bhai Daleep Singh took out his new gun, the GPM and let it loose. After half an hour of firing, the other side became calm and the house’s courtyard was filled with bodies. The sound of bullets was replaced with sound of groans and cries. There were a total of 11 bodies. Two Singhs from our Jatha were also injured. From the family, only the one boy had been killed, who had been shot before we arrived. Kala, along with four injured thugs was captured. The girl put on clothes inside and then fell at Bhai Karam Singh’s feet. “Brother, if you didn’t come today then….Oh my god! My brother!” Seeing her brother’s body, the girl began to sob.

Bhai Karam Singh tried to console the girl, “No sister, compose yourself. These were government agents. Your brother is a martyr…a martyr in the battle for Khalistan.”

“In the morning, take the boy’s body for cremation and bring us a truck so that we can throw these dusht’s bodies into the Beas.” After the truck arrived, the entire Jatha loaded the bodies onto the truck and Kala with his companions was tied up and brought to the banks of the river Beas. The bodies were thrown in.

Bhai Daleep Singh broke the slience, “Ok, let’s do their Antim Saskaar as well.” One Singh took a five litre can and filled it with diesel from the truck.

“Hai! Oy Baba ji! We’re your servants…!” Gobind Ram’s lions had become goats.

The Singhs drenched the five thugs in diesel and threw a match at them. The dark night was lit up by the five who ran about for some time and then themselves jumped into the river.

The next day, the Singhs saw a four wheeler filled with BSF officers.

Bhai Daleep Singh asked, “Bhaoo, what’re the orders?” He was shining the barrel of his GPM with a cloth.

Bhai Karam Singh replied, “No…not today…Let them make a routine of things.”

In the meantime, at Amritsar, Bhai Gurnam Singh blew up a BSF tanker with a grenade and announced that Babbar Khalsa would make new grenade and bomb Jathas.

BSF vehicle blown apart

The four-wheeler made its rounds for three or four days when on the fifth, a massive explosion came from the road and the Madrasis inside were all smeared onto the ground. All 15 Madrasis had to be scraped off the ground.

A couple days later, we overheard to villagers talking amongst themselves about the explosion: “See that Bhaoo? The Guru Singh’s did something amazing eh? The next day the BSF were going to people’s houses looking for all the “spare parts”… Here’s Sahib ji’s leg and there’s Vada Sahib ji’s arm with all his ribbons! HAHAH”

Because of these attacks, the police in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Batala were all furious. They began to torture all normal residents. They would keep people for in police stations for no reason and rape the daughters of those Gursikhs who gave shelter to the Singhs. In village Leharkaa, we along with the Khalistan Liberation Force’s Bhai Jugraj Singh Toofan had a place we stayed. That household had a daughter who studied in the 10th grade. The police gave her a treatment which left our hairs standing on end. This girl was called Harjeet Kaur and her father and brother were already in Amritsar jail for giving shelter to the Singhs. Harjeet Kaur along with her older sister Parmveer went to meet them, when they caught the eye of SSP PK Sharma. That evening, Sharma came to village Leharkaa and took the girl to the police station, where she was badly tortured. That young body was subjected to third degree tortures. She was beaten with thick boards and hung upside down. They even put salt and chili pepper in her private parts. But this young Bibi did not even name a single Singh who came to her house. After she refused to do so, she was taken into a room where she was blindfolded and all night seven or eight police officers, along with Sharma raped her. She fell unconscious. When she regained her senses, she found herself lying alone and naked in the room.

After they could not take any information from her, the police released Harjeet Kaur. She was in a very bad state. She could not even walk properly. Her spirit had been broken and soon after, she hung herself and committed suicide.

Like Sharma, Gobind Ram also began to harass normal people. Finally, his evil reached its limit when he arrested the wives of Bhai Mehal Singh Babbar and Bhai Kulwant Singh Babbar. Both women worked in a bank and supported their children.

On August 21st, 1989, a van with tinted windows pulled in front of the bank. Six armed men got out and asked the women to come with them.

The women answered, “Who knows who you are? How can we go with someone we don’t even know?”

“Look at my ID. I’m Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, ASI. Now shut up and start walking with us or you’re going to be disrespected.” The ASI was yelling his threat.

The women began to yell and said, “We won’t go! How are you going to take us? You’ve got big dastaars and look like you’re the sons of Sikhs, have some shame!”

The ASI ordered his assistants, “Oy Shera! Pick them up and throw them in the van! People are going to start to gather and make a scene and our job will get harder.”. The officer followed his orders and forcibly took off the women’s dastaars, and tied their hands with them and threw them in the van. Their kirpaans were also taken off. They began to drive towards Batala’s “Beco” Interrogation Centre.

Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Pehlwan Babbar

Bhai Avtar Singh Babbar (Pehlvan) became associated with Babbar Khalsa International because it was said that this group ran completely according to Sikh principles and the workers are all very dedicated to religious matters. In his earlier life, Bhai Avtar Singh was not firm in his religious beliefs but later, he faced such circumstances that he became ready to sacrifice his all and die for the Sikh faith and Sikh interests.

Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Babbar was born in March 1960 in home of Sardar Saroop Singh and Bibi Mahinder Kaur. The family had three sons and two daughters. He was the youngest son.

Supporting such a large household from income earned through the family farm became diffuclt and so the family in 1968, left their native Jhabal and moved to Amritsar City (Kangra Colony).

Bhai Avtar Singh studied until the sixth grade. He completed four in Jhabal and two further in the city. After this he did not study further.

Like his brothers, Bhai Avtar Singh began working in a factory, but he did not stay long in any place. In one job he would spend six months and then move on and work a year some where else and so on. This continued until 1984. At that time, Bhai Avtar Singh had cut his hair and shaved his beard. He used to also drink a lot of liquor. He had very good relations with the local communists and used to join in all their events. Bhai Avtar Singh was also the Union President of his factory. His older brother’s used to take part in the Akali Morcha and Bhai Avtar Singh used to mock and make fun of them. In those days, he was essentially an atheist.

Maninderjit Bitta

Around this time, Bhai Avtar Singh bought a liquor shop near Amritsar’s Gagan Cinema. He soon fell into a feud with a nearby liquor shop owner, which was resolved by Maninderjit Bitta (Youth Congress (I) leader). [Note: Bitta is still active today. He is now the leader of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front. He worked very vigorously against the Sikh Freedom Movement. Bhai Davinderpal Singh Bhullar is facing execution in India for an alleged assassination attempt on Bitta]. After this, Bhai Avtar Singh became a close associate of Bitta and even became the Block President of the Youth Congress.

The Congress candidate for Kangra Colony, Madan Lal Vohra wanted that Bhai Avtar Singh’s family should vote for the Congress, but they did not want to and refused. If they were in the villages, they would vote for the Akali Dal and if in the City [where there are no Akali Candidates], they would vote for the Jan Sangh. It was because of this that the family came into conflict with Madan Lal Vohra.

During the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib, on June 6th, 1984 at 1.30AM, Madan Lal Vohra complained to the army that the three brothers were a risk to the local Hindus and had them arrested. The brothers were first taken to the army camp at Amritsar, where they were interrogated and tortured. After this, on June 27, they were sent to jail and released on July 9, 1984. After this, Bhai Avtar Singh’s life was transformed. He was no longer an atheist. The reason for this was his experience in jail. He was of course now a victim on the Indian Government’s unjust law that had him arrested and tortured. But he was also shocked by the bigoted policy that had resulted in the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib.

In jail, Bhai Avtar Singh had met Babbar Khalsa’s Bhai Kulvant Singh (Ambala) and his companions. The Singhs used to do paath and keertan together and always stayed content within Akal Purakh’s will. These Singhs had a very deep effect on Bhai Avtar Singh. His interest in the Guru and Gurbani grew very quickly. After being released from prison he became a tyar-bar-tyar Singh. After just a little while, his nitnem grew to 15 banis and in his final days it was 21 banis.

Bhai Avtar Singh, to fight against Indian terror, joined Babbar Khalsa to take part in the Panthic Movement. He took part in some very major actions.

On June 20, 1986, Bhai Avtar Singh was arrested by the Amritsar Police and brutally tortured. He was then sent to jail on July 26, 1986. After some days, he was turned over to the Delhi police for interrogation. It was there that they declared him the main accused in a plot to blow up the Indian Parliament. He was sent to Indore jail under the NSA act. His family filed a petition against this and the NSA charges were dropped. On May 19, 1987, Bhai Avtar Singh was brought back to Amritsar. His older brother, Bhai Jasbir Singh had been arrested on May 5th.

Bhai Avtar Singh was given to the Amritsar Police under a remand for May 21, 1987. Both of Bhai Sahib’s arms were broken at this time due to torture. On the night of May 21st, Bhai Sahib was martyred in a fake encounter. On May 23, the newspapers announced that in an encounter, Goindwal Police had killed a major terrorist, Bhai Avtar Singh, and his companion, Bhai Rana Partap Singh Babbar.

Shaheed Bhai Rana Partap Singh Babbar

The police decided to cremate the bodies of Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Rana Partap Singh. When the family arrived to take bodies, they found that the police had already placed the bodies together on one pyre at Tarn Taran’s cremation grounds and lit the wood. Bhai Rana Partap Singh’s mother parents along with their village panchait arrived at that time and decided to cremate the bodies themselves. They pushed the government’s wood aside and removed the bodies. The Singh’s hands were still tied behind their backs and their bodies were ripped apart by the torture. Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Rana Partap Singh were cremated with due honour and their ashes were immersed at Sri Goindwal Sahib.

Bhai Sahib went to primary school in Hans Kalan and then went to High School there. Bhai Amarjeet Singh was a very athletic youth. He was an avid field hockey player and was his school team’s captain. Bhai Sahib was also very smart in school and always came at the top of his class. When he graduated in 1988, Bhai Amarjeet Singh secured 72% marks on his finals (a very high mark in India).

During his time in High School, Bhai Sahib was known to be very outspoken. He wasn’t afraid of speaking the truth to anyone. Bhai Amarjeet Singh had even physically challenged the local gangsters. He was always ready to stand up for those being bullied.

After High School, Bhai Amarjeet Singh was accepted into Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana. It was here he came into contact with Gursikhs and became Amritdhari.

Bhai Sahib began to live a very strict Gursikh lifestyle at this point. He spoke very sweetly to all and loved to listen to keertan. He would wake at Amrit vela and do keshi ishnaan. After naam abhyaas, Bhai Sahib would do his nitnem along with Sukhmani Sahib. After finishing his daily nitnem, Bhai Sahib would go to the Gurdwara and only then would he do anything else. Bhai Sahib stopped attending non-Gurmat events like wedding parties, etc.

Bhai Amarjeet Singh Ji was also a Sarbloh Bibeki Singh. He made a point of always speaking sweetly and with love for all. He was opposed to swearing or speaking harshly.

Bhai Sahib began to distribute Gurmat literature around the area for free and speak out against Manmat practices. At all times, his lips would have Gurbani on them and he would encourage others to become Amritdhari.

Bhai Amarjeet Singh attended rhensbhais by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha very eagerly and at the same time, he was close friends with many Singhs associated with the Damdami Taksal and attended programs organized by the Taksal as well.

Bhai Amarjeet Singh became known as a very dedicated Gursikh and won the respect of those around him. In his days at Guru Nanak Engineering College, the Indian Government was terrorizing the people of Punjab. Thousands of innocent Sikhs had been killed and Gurdwaras desecrated. Bhai Sahib began to think seriously about Khalsa Raj.

Bhai Sahib was attending a local rhensbhai keertan when Bhai Harbhajan Singh Mand of Babbar Khalsa approached him. Babbar Khalsa was an organization of dedicated Gursikhs who fought a principled battle against the Indian State, based on Gurmat. Bhai Amarjeet Singh eagerly offered any assistance he could provide.

Bhai Amarjeet Singh moved to Kila Raipur while studying at the College and made friends with Bhai Amarpreet Singh. Bhai Amarpreet Singh was also involved in the Sikh Liberation Movement and introduced Bhai Amarjeet Singh to a number of Sikh fighters (Bhai Amarpreet Singh became Shaheed in June 1992).

While still studying in College, Bhai Amarjeet Singh became to work with Bhai Harbhajan Singh Babbar (Delianvali). He became an expert at secret operations and no one outside a very small group of Singhs knew about his involvement. He would go secretly on missions and then return in time to be an engineering student. No one could guess he was an active Sikh guerrilla.

Shaheeds: Bhai Hardeep Singh Pona and Dr. Darshpreet Singh Rumi

While doing seva in Babbar Khalsa, Bhai Amarjeet Singh began to take notice of weaknesses in the Sikh Movement. He noticed that some fighters in other organizations had taken to using narcotics and had made links with smugglers. Bhai Sahib summoned a meeting of all organizations to discuss this issue. Local Singhs like Bhai Hardeep Singh Pona, Dr. Darshpreet Singh Rumi, Bhai Mohan Singh Shiekpura attended and agreed to fight this practice.

In the final days of the Sikh Movement in 1992, some Sikh fighters also began to cut their hair to avoid capture. Bhai Sahib was very fiercely opposed to this. Bhai Amarjeet Singh would say:

“According to Sikh history, Singhs like Bhai Taru Singh and many others lived and died with their kes intact. Today, some people who call themselves Singhs are having their kes cut. How can they call themselves Singhs of the Guru? Our Guru had said he would not even give his darshan to those without kes and called such people Bheds (cowardly sheep). These people cannot be Singhs of Guru Gobind Singh.”

Bhai Sahib believed that a true Shaheed was one who died with his Sikhi and rehit intact. If Guru Sahib would not give his darshan to a Sikh with cut hair, how could he accept such a person’s death as a “Shaheedi”.

Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Sheikupura - General of Khalistan Liberation Force

The Sikh Liberation Movement was beginning to suffer major setbacks, but Bhai Amarjeet Singh remained in Chardi Kala. He had begun to work with Bhai Kuldeep Singh Sheikupura (Khalistan Liberation Force) and continued unafraid.

While still at Guru Nanak Engineering College, Bhai Amarjeet Singh was betrayed by an informant. Bhai Sahib was doing his daily Amrit vela at home when the police party swooped in. Bhai Sahib was arrested and tortured mercilessly. Bhai Sahib quietly bore everything but spoke nothing.

The police then removed Bhai Sahib’s kakaars. Bhai Amarjeet Singh declared that until his kakaars were returned, he would not so much as drink a drop of water. The torture continued and Bhai Sahib remained absorbed in naam simran. The police became frustrated and could not get Bhai Sahib to speak even a word. The police expected him to beg for water as the torture continued, but Bhai Amarjeet Singh continued his jaap and asked for nothing.

On March 11th, 1992, as Bhai Sahib’s body became weaker and still not one piece of information could be taken, the police took him to village Kaneeaa(n) and martyred him in a fake encounter.

Bhai Sahib’s life is a glowing example of what a true Sikh fighter is like. His life was dedicated to Khalsa principals. It is the involvement of Singhs like this that will make Sikh liberation possible. It is the sacrifice of Gursikhs like this that will one day bring Khalsa Raj. Bhai Amarjeet Singh Khalsa was a real Babbar.

Article by Bhai Mahinder Singh, taken from Sant Sipahi magazine, March 1994.
Translated by Bhai Balpreet Singh.

Shaheed Bhai Amarjeet Singh Khemkaran

Shaheed Bhai Amarjeet Singh Khemkaran was born into the household of Sardar Kashmeer Singh & Mata Gurdeep Kaur in the year of 1953 in the village Khemkaran which nears the Pakistan border. Generally people hailing from the Majha area of Panjab are traditionally very fit, athletic and have strong muscular physique. Bhai Amarjeet Singh was no different, and due to this Bhai Sahib was accepted into the Panjab Police in 1972.

In 1978 Bhai Sahib was married to Bibi Malkeet Kaur, daughter of Sardar Gurmej Singh of village Mani Singh wala. In Vaisakhi (April 13) of the the same year the Narkdharis carried out a procession on the sacred land of Amritsar in which the Sikh Gurus and faith were being insulted. A group of Sikhs marched to protest against this procession, the group was fired upon by the Narkdharis with the assistance of police officials which resulted in the martyrdom of 13 Sikhs.

The procession and subsequent massacre outraged the entire Sikh Nation, Sikhs all over the world were left hurt and saddened and demanded justice against the perpetrators.

Bhai Sewa Singh and Shaheed Bhai Gurnam Singh

At this time Bhai Amarjeet Singh was on duty under the command of SSP Sardar Simranjeet Singh Mann. All officers under the command of Simranjeet Singh Mann became strict followers of the Sikh religion which was highly due to the parchar (preaching) of Bhai Amarjeet Singh within the station, along with colleagues Bhai Seva Singh & Bhai Gurnam Singh.

Following the Amritsar massacre Bhai Amarjeet Singh, Bhai Seva Singh & Bhai Gurnam Singh began to continue in their Panthic seva outwith the Panjab police and directed their attention to punishing the perpetrators of the Amritsar massacres.

Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar

On this journey Bhai Sahib was looking for like-minded individuals, this is how he came into contact with Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar. Bhai Amarjeet Singh secretly began working alongside the Babbar Khalsa who had been carrying out actions against the Narkdharis hierarchy.

Shaheed Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Singh Babbar and Shaheed Bhai Sulakhan Singh Babbar

In 1981 an important action was carried out upon officer Niranjan Singh, a follower of the Narkdhari sect. Bhai Amarjeet Singh, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar, Bhai Sulakhan Singh Babbar reached the Chandigarh secretariat. Bhai Sulakhan Singh was sat outside on his motorcycle whilst Bhai Sukhdev Singh and Bhai Armajeet Singh entered the building with a revolver concealed in a register document.

Upon entering the building the Singhs spotted there target and opened fire, however Niranjan Singh managed to flee. Upon hearing the gunshots the public chaotically started running out of the building, both Singhs joined in the crowd, Bhai Amarjeet Singh managed to leave the building, but Bhai Sukhdev Singh was surrounded by the police.

Bhai Amarjeet Singh joined Bhai Sulakhan Singh and opened fire at the police and managed to free Bhai Sukhdev Singh and all 3 Singhs managed to escape unharmed.

Bhai Sahib continued to work for the Panjab Police whilst also performing his Panthic duties. Bhai Sahib and other Sikh officers would cover for one another when each officer was out punishing enemies of the Sikh Panth.

On November 19, 1981 upon completing there missions of punishing Narkdharis in the Jalandhar and Kapurthla districts, Bhai Sahib and Bhai Tarsem Singh had attended a meeting in the village of Daheru, district Ludhiana. Also present at this meeting were Bhai Vadhava Singh Babbar (present chief of Babbar Khalsa), Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar, Tarsem Singh Kalasanghian (currently in Netherlands) and Bhai Gurnam Singh (colleague of Bhai Amarjeet Singh).

The Panjab Police were informed of this by one of their touts, and headed by Inspector Pritam Singh Bajwa, the police in huge numbers descended upon Daheru village.

The police surrounded the house in which the Singhs were sitting, and the owner of the house Bibi Nachattar Kaur was taken into custody. Bhai Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Tarsem were on the open roof of the house, when the police attempted to enter the house they were greeted with a hail of bullets. A long encounter ensued in which 3 police officers were killed including Inspector Pritam Singh Bajwa and Constable Surat Singh. Both Singhs managed to escape from the Police and ran into the fields.

The police made an announcement stating that the Singhs were still in the village and if any local was to give them refuge or shelter, they would be regarded equally as guilty as the wanted Singhs. All villagers were strictly instructed to stay where they were and not to move. The farm workers were also told to stop what they were doing and be seated.

The police wanted to catch the Singhs at any cost, at first sniffer dogs were brought in but to no avail, then a helicopter circled the village with hundreds of officers patrolling on the ground. Mircalously the Singhs managed to escape from the village.

This was the first major encounter of the Sikh struggle movement, in which a handful of Singhs caused havoc amongst the police forces. From the ammunition recovered from the village, the police connected the Singhs to the Jalandhar and Kapurthla cases, and also discovered the identities of the 2 Singhs, Bhai Amarjeet Singh Khemkaran and Bhai Tarsem Singh.

The police began hassling the family of Bhai Amarjeet Singh as to his whereabouts. Each time a case was linked to Bhai Amarjeet Singh, the local police of the area in which the incident occurred would arrest Bibi Malkeet Kaur and take her away for questioning. 17 separate village panchayats were involved in the release of Bibi Malkeet Kaur, but the police continued to harass her. As Bhai Amarjeet Singh was carrying out his panthic duties whilst being underground, Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa sent a Jatha to Bhai Sahib’s family and offered them security within the Jatha. Bibi Malkeet Kaur along with her mother and brother Darshan Singh moved to Sri Darbar Sahib complex and lived under the guard of the Jatha Singhs.

In January 1984, Bhai Amarjeet Singh came to meet Sant Jarnail Singh at Sri Darbar Sahib and began staying with his family at Sri Darbar complex. By this time Bhai Darshan Singh had also taken up arms and was involved in the Jatha activities.

Shaheed Bhai Amarjeet Singh Khemkaran with Sant Jarnail Singh

Bhai Amarjeet Singh was a very clever individual and would often pick up on the dirty tricks being played by the government to dis-unite the kaum, such as the rumours of the Babbars dislike of Sant Ji and their Jatha Singhs. Bhai Sahib being close with both Jathas, would quickly root out the troublemakers. Whilst Bhai Sahib carried out many actions alongside the Babbar Khalsa Singhs, he was extremely close to Sant Jarnail Singh.

In June 1984, as the Indian army was planning an all out assault on Sri Darbar Sahib, Sant Jarnail Singh summoned all the Jujharoo Singhs inside the complex and instructed them to send their wife’s, kids, and relatives away from Sri Darbar Sahib.

On the 1st of June 1984, the battle between the Hindustani forces and the Jujharoo Singhs began which lasted over 7 hours. On the 3rd of June the firing once again started, and at this point Sant Jarnail Singh instructed all the women and children to leave Sri Darbar Sahib with Giani Puran Singh.

On the night of June 3rd, Bhai Sahib met with Bibi Malkeet Kaur and his 2 sons, Bhai Sarbjeet Singh & Bhai Gurpreet Singh at the home of Giani Mohan Singh. This was to be their last meeting.

Bhai Sahib was positioned at Ghanta Ghar alongside Bhai Darshan Singh, both Singh’s fought bravely to keep out the Indian Army from entering the complex. In the end their guns fell silent and both Singhs attained Shaheedi.

Written and compiled by NeverForget84.com

Shaheed Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar

Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar was born on November 24, 1965. His father is Bhai Jagjit Singh and mother Bhupinder Kaur. Bhai Sahib had one younger brother as well. Bhai Sahib came from a very educated, rich, and prosperous family. Both of Bhai Sahib’s parents were teachers and taught at nearby schools. Bhai Gurpal Singh spent the first five years at Bhucho Mandi with his grandmother. Bhai Sahib’s entire family was Amritdhari for some generations and so he received his love of the Guru in his heritage.

Bhai Sahib was very devout. He would go to the Gurdwara daily and listen to nitnem there and only then eat anything.

Bhai Gurpal Singh graduated from high school in 1980 and then went to Punjab Agriculture Univesity in Ludhiana to study for his B.Sc in agriculture. He was very intelligent and attended school on a scholarship.

Shaheed Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar

Bhai Gurpal Singh’s love for Sikhi continued to grown and in 1981, he received amrit at the Ludhiana Smagam organized by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. From that day he kept Sarbloh Rehit of the Khalsa. When he came home that night, on his shoulder he was carrying a boari, a sack filled with sarbloh battae and other vessels. He immediately took all the china and glassware and threw them in the garbage. Bhai Sahib told his parents, “We will cook and eat in sarbloh from now on. This is the Guru’s rehit.” Bhai Gurpal Singh began preparing his own meals.

Before going underground Bhai Sahib generally wore the Khalsa bana, with a damala and chola. Bhai Sahib was very strong and had a good physical build.

Bhai Sahib excelled in education was one of the most intelligent students that the University had ever seen. Along with their education however, the young Singhs at the university did regular sat sang at the university dorms. Many students were inspired by Bhai Sahib’s example. Bhai Gurpal Singh and other young Singhs used to learn gatka and martial arts and talked about being ready to serve the Panth. When doing let stretches for martial arts classes, Bhai Sahib and his companions used to take each other to the limits and joke about the police using the same methods for torture.

Bhai Sahib had a very strict nitnem. Every day, beyond his seven bani nitnem, he would also recite Sukhmani Sahib, Baranmaha, and Savaiyay. He memorised 16-17 banis, At the Delhi Akhand Kirtan Smagam, Bhai Sahib took part in the Gurbani competition and won Rs. 960. He also won a similar competiton in Ludhiana.

Shaheed Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar at keertan smagam

Bhai Sahib very much enjoyed doing keertan and playing joree. He had memorized about 50 shabads, Whenever he would come home, he would play a tape and play joree with it for practice. He would do his Rehras Sahib as keertan and would also do Asa Di Vaar keertan with great love.

Bhai Sahib was a very good laridaar Akhand Paathi. To read shudh paath, he would consult with older Jatha Singhs. The Singhs in the Jatha respected him very much and he was greatly loved.

When the yearly Ludhiana Smagam would come, he would abandon everything and do seva in the langar day and night. Even school would become secondary.

Eventually the Ludhiana Sangat assigned Bhai Gurpal Singh the seva of preparing Degh. The seva of Degh is a very big seva and is given only to those Singhs who keep the strictest Sarbloh Bibek and also have a strong spiritual jeevan. At first Bhai Sahib was very inexperienced and the Degh did not turn out right. The Singhs gave him a tankhah. But by his keen interest and Guru Sahib’s blessings, Bhai Gurpal Singh became very good and was even nicknamed “Degha Vala Singh”.

Bhai Sahib had total faith in Gurbani. He was dedicated to the principles espoused by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and would go to the Jatha’s major Smagams in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Delhi etc. Usually he could be seen sitting on stage play the khartaals. All night he would sit in one position, listening to the Rhensbai.

Bhai Gurpal Singh’s every pore was filled with love of the Guru. He was very anxious to preserve the honour of the Panth. The 1978 Nirankari Massacre in Amritsar had a deep effect on his mind. Bhai Gurpal Singh felt that the Singhs had been brutally slaughtered and there was no justice to follow.

Bhai Sahib felt the desire to serve the Panth so in February 1984, he left for Amritsar. Someone asked Bhai Sahib what would happen to his family, Bhai Sahib Replied, “We are two brothers in the family. Now treat us like there is only one” (Bhai Sahib’s younger brother is still alive today).

Bhai Gurpal Singh’s father Sardar Jagjit Singh went to Amritsar and forced Bhai Sahib to return. He insisted Bhai Gurpal Singh continue his studies. Bhai Gurpal Singh returned but at this point began to secretly take part in operations against the Indian Government. Bhai Sahib felt that his sacrifice was needed to protect the Panth and fight against evil. He believed that the best way to use his life was to sacrifice it for the cause of the Guru.

When Bhai Sahib’s family began to build a new house, he would say to his father, “What is the benefit of these bricks? The Panth is locked in life and death struggle and our money should go to maintain our Panth’s honour.” Bhai Sahib encouraged his family to give their Dasvandh to the Sikh Movement.

Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar's before going underground

Eventually Bhai Sahib went completely underground. Bhai Gurpal Singh Ji soon took part in big operations such as the rescuing of Bhai Anokh Singh Jee from the Ludhiana Court houses. He worked together with all organizations of Singhs.

Bhai Sahib was always in Chardi Kala and had a tremendous nitnem. No matter what duty brought, he always did two Sukhmani Sahib paths before eating his evening meal. Singhs that saw him talk about the red-Gurmukhi glow that was present on his face. One Singh I talked to who did seva with Bhai Gurpal Singh said that Bhai Gurpal Singh could do Sukhmani Sahib very quickly and with great concentration. The Singhs used to talk amongst themselves and say that he was of a very high avastha and some Singhs even thought he was a Brahmgyani.

Bhai Sahib became central to the operations conducted in the Malwa region. In early 1987 Bhai Sahib came to see his parents. Bhai Sahib asked his father to do Ardaas that his Sikhi would last intact to his final breaths. Seeing his mother very sad, Bhai Sahib said, “Guru Gobind Singh Ji sacrificed his four sons for us. We are two brothers. Can’t you give just one son to the Panth?” Bhai Sahib asked his family to have his final rites performed by Rehitvan Singhs from the Jatha.

Bhai Gurpal Singh was not able to meet his family again but sent them a final letter which is translated below:

“Respecteds,

Vaahiguru Jee Ka Khalsa Vaahiguru Jee Kee Fateh!

By Guru Akaal Purakh’s supreme grace, I am in total Chardi Kala and Anand. I have no troubles at all. But I am sad about one thing that you are all depressed. But at the same time I was glad to know that Father is in Chardi Kala. There is no reason to be depressed. I wanted this fate. You can certainly be depressed, weep and wail if I ever betray the Panth, or act like a coward or if I commit any immoral crimes. And please do weep the day I give up my weapons before this evil government. But if by the grace of the Satguru, like countless of my brothers, I am successful in breathing my end with my kesh and Sikhi intact, then please do not weep.

Read Bani and jap naam and do ardaas before Satguru that he lets us pass this exam with his grace. Countless others die. Some die by taking drugs, others die in countless honourless ways commiting shameful acts. Be grateful that Sachay Pathshah has brought your son to his side.

Our love exists only if you stay in the limits of Sikhi and talk about love of Sikhi.

Everything else is fine. There is no need to worry. Every day you do paath and know that Dukh is medicine and Sukh is a disease. Please give my roaring Fateh with hands clasped together to [all family members and acquaintances].

Vaahiguru Jee Ka Khalsa Vaahiguru Jee Kee Fateh!”

The time Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar was eagerly awaiting finally arrived on Monday May 11, 1987. Bhai Gurpal Singh had found out that another prominent Singh in the Movement, Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara, the assassin of Harchand Singh Longowal, had cut his kesh in order to conceal his identity. Bhai Sahib was firmly against compromising Sikhi to save one’s life. He decided he would go meet with Bhai Jarnail Singh and encourage him to keep his kesh again and get peshed at the next possible Amrit Sinchaar. Even in the thick of battle, with the Indian Security Forces hot on his trail, Bhai Gurpal Singh was willing to take a risk to help a fallen brother on the Path of Sikhi.

Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara - Khalistan Liberation Force

Bhai Gurpal Singh and another Singh met Bhai Jarnail Singh at village Haripur in Sangrur. They had a long discussion and decided to spend the night at a small hut in the fields. Somehow the Security Forces received word that these most wanted Singhs were in the area. Bhai Sahib had risen for Amrit vela when at 4am, the hut was surrounded Bhai Sahib heard some noises outside and immediately knew what was happening. They came out fighting and after a heated battle with the police, Bhai Sahib and Bhai Halwara were silenced. Bhai Gurpal Singh took the bullets in his chest and did not run. When he fell, Guru Sahib did one final kirpa on his Shaheed: Bhai Gurpal Singh’s head rested on an elevated water canal. Even in death, Guru Sahib did not let his Singh’s head bow before the enemy.

Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar Shaheedi Saroop

Bhai Sahib’s family was not aware of the Shaheedi until some days later. They finally found out about the Shaheedi from someone who mentioned seeing a picture in the newspaper.

After their Shaheedi countless Singh’s gathered at Bhai Gurpal Singh’s house and did an Akhand Paath and Akhand Kirtan, which was done in great Chardi Kala. The village of Halwara made a new Gurdwara in honour of Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara. In Bhucho Mandi even today there is a Gurdwara Sahib that has the pictures of Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar and is kept in his memory (though the name of the Gurdwara has been changed since).

Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar was a Chardi Kala sarblohi warrior. Even today his family keeps his old batay as his momentos. Bhai Sahib sacrificed his life in the highest of Khalsa traditions in order to fight against oppression and to maintain the honour of the Panth. When the Panth needed his head, he did not back down. Bhai Sahib’s example is one that we can all learn from today.

By Bhai Balpreet Singh.

Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara

Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara was born in village Manak Majra which is located approximately 3 miles from Mandi Gobindgarh, District Ludhiana (now presently in territorial jurisdiction of District Fatehgarh Sahib) in the month of January, 1961, into a small farming family.

Bhai Sahib was born into the household of Mata Mohinder Kaur and Sardar Harbant Singh. He was the youngest among four brothers and three sisters. Bhai Sahib’s family moved to village Halwara, District Ludhiana, where he completed his primary education at the local village school.

Bhai Sahib was a keen and talented basketball player; he even represented Punjab in the inter-state school basketball games held in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Bhai Sahib took admission in the sports wing at the Govt. College in Ludhiana. Prior to his first year examinations Bhai Sahib left college as he felt he could serve a higher purpose in life. Bhai Jarnail Singh began taking interest in religious and political affairs. Bhai Sahib became a member of the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, in which he contributed to the monthly journal of the study circle.

Bhai Sahib was blessed with Amrit in the year of 1982. It was in this year that the religious-political scene had reached boiling point in the aftermath of the acquittal of Nakli Nirankaris involved in the massacre of the pious Sikh jatha who had peacefully marched to protest the cult’s repeated insult of Sikh Gurus and faith.

Bhai Sahib had built close relations within the leadership of the Sikh Students Federation which worked in close co-operation with Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa. Bhai Sahib became an active member of the SSF and often participated in peaceful protests against the atrocities being carried out upon his fellow Sikhs. For this reason Bhai Sahib was arrested but was released one month later. After his release, Bhai Sahib moved to Golden Temple complex to continue with his activities with the SSF.

Here, Bhai Sahib spent time with Sant Jarnail Singh. Sant Jarnail Singh greatly admired Bhai Sahibs affection and dedication for the Sikh Nation. During Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara’s first meeting with Sant Jarnail Singh, Sant Jarnail Singh asked Bhai Sahib of his name, Bhai Sahib smiled and responded “Jarnail Singh”. Sant Jarnail Singh placing his hand on Bhai Sahib’s head (blessing him) said:

“Do not give a bad name to the Jarnail Singh’s, and your actions should reflect your name, become a true Jarnail (General).”

Bhai Sahib was later arrested along with Bhai Gurinder Singh Bhola (who was later freed along with Gen. Labh Singh in the famous getaway organized by Bhai Manbeer Singh Chaheru) and other Singh’s in the connection of the murder of Ramesh Chander (son of Lala Jagat Narayan; founder-editor of the Hind Samachar group of newspapers) Bhai Sahib was imprisoned for about 17 months in pending of the trial. During this time in prison Bhai Sahib spent a lot of time meditating on The Lord’s name and had to endure a hunger strike to win the right to have darshan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. On his release from jail in Feb. 1985, family members tried to convince Bhai Sahib to stay at home, but the hurt caused by Operation Bluestar and the Sikh Massacres in Delhi, to the psyche of the Sikh Nation, including Bhai Sahib was unbearable. Bhai Sahib felt that the time had now come to serve the purpose of his existence. At the time there was no organised movement of militancy but he seemed to be determined to avenge enemies and traitors of the Sikh Nation without any visible wherewithal and logistics support. Bhai Sahib’s brother states:

“He had become a totally transformed soul than what I saw of him years before.”

Bhai Sahib went underground just two days after his release from prison. Bhai Sahib became one of the leading persons to revive the movement after the blow of Operation Bluestar. Bhai Sahib always selected, planned and executed his targets with utmost wisdom and skill. It is not possible to attribute the exact number of militant operations to Bhai Sahibs name as he never publically claimed responsibility for any action (as a show of humblesness). Only the police files and further newspaper reports can throw some light on these aspects. However, one action which Bhai Sahibs name has become attached with is the assassination of Harchand Singh Longowal in the Akal Parkash Gurdwara at Sherpur in Sangrur District, on August 1985.

Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara

After the assassination of Harchand Singh Longowal, the Hindustani forces were frantically searching for Bhai Jarnail Singh; Bhai Sahib’s family was constantly harassed by the Indian Agencies trying to find clues of Bhai Sahib’s whereabouts, but to no avail. During the assassination of Harchand Singh Longowal, some of Bhai Jaranail Singh’s companions were arrested. Bhai Sahib hatched a plan to free his companions; Bhai Sahib bought a house located near Sangrur jail, where his fellow Singh’s were being held captive. However, the plan was leaked and Bhai Sahib was not able to carry out his task. Bhai Jarnail Singh lived and attained supreme sacrifice for the Sikh Nation, which was his avowed mission. At one time DGP Riberio claimed the militancy could be controlled just with arrest of Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara and Bhai Gurjit Singh of SSF. Bhai Sahib is said to have been connected with most of the leading militants, such as Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala (KLF), Bhai Charanjit Singh Channi (Talwandi Rai), Bhai Varinder Singh Dakha (Bhai Jarnail Singh himself had convinced Bhai Varinder Singh Dakha to join the freedom struggle), Bhai Iqbal Singh Babbar, Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar and many brave warriors who have gone to the gallows for the common cause of the Sikh Nation.

Shaheed Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar

Bhai Sahib was killed along with Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar on the dawn of May 11, 1987 in Haripur, District Sangrur when the police surrounded the house where he and Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar had spent the night. Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar attained Shaheedi (Martyrdom) whilst battling with the police. Bhai Sahib attained Shaheedi when was shot after attempting to escape subsequent to freeing himself from police officers who wanted to arrest him alive. Two of his associates are said to have escaped from the scene whilst retaliating with the police. After their Shaheedi countless Singh’s gathered at Bhai Gurpal Singh’s house and did an Akhand Paath and Akhand Kirtan, which was done in great Chardi Kala (High Spirits). The village of Halwara made a new Gurdwara in honour of Shaheed Bhai Jarnail Singh Halwara. In Bhucho Mandi even today there is a Gurdwara Sahib that has the pictures of Bhai Gurpal Singh Babbar and is kept in his memory (though the name of the Gurdwara has been changed since).

Bhai Sahib had an award of 150,000Rs on his head which was highest of the time. Bhai Sahib’s contribution and popularity could well be measured by the police arrangements made to keep masses away from his final rites ceremony.

All the routes leading to village were closed for all traffic. The venue of ceremony was encircled by heavily armed police officers and fields were patrolled by police on horseback. Two DIG ranks were in overall charge supervising the Punjab police and Para-military arrangements.

Despite all these provisions made by the Indian forces, Sikhs from all over Punjab flooded to village Halwara, to pay respect to Bhai Sahib. Onlookers were amazed to see the huge number of people who had come to attend Bhai Sahib’s final rites; it was as if the whole of Punjab had gathered to pay their respects to their fallen hero. The number of people that had assembled after Bhai Sahib’s Shaheedi confirmed that the Freedom Fighter’s had the sympathy and full backing by the people of Punjab.

Written and compiled by NeverForget84.com