Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh 'Shinda Galowal'

Bhai Surinder Singh left his village and began to learn Santhiya (correct pronunciation of Gurbani) from Damdami Taksal at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash (Mehta Chowk). Here after completing his Santhiya began to partake in sewa of Langar and Amrit Sanchar’s. During this time Bhai Sahib came in contact with many great Jujharoos and became particularly close to Shaheed Bhai Jugraj Singh ‘Toofan’. Following Bhai Jugraj Singh’s Shaheedi Bhai Surinder Singh was requested to join the armed movement by the companions of Bhai Jugraj Singh. In this manner Bhai Surinder Singh was recruited and became and active member of the Khalistan Liberation Force. Bhai Sahib’s first course of action was to force the police to surrender the weapons which were seized at the time of the Bhai Jugraj Singh and Bhai Bakshish Singh‘s encounter.

Shaheed Bhai Tasbeer Singh Jhander

Bhai Surinder Singh went to work closely with Bhai Tasbeer Singh Jhander, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Bhai Surjan Singh Tibar, Bhai Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Kuldeep Singh Fauji. Bhai Sahib was highly respected by all Jujharoo Jathebandi’s and due to his humbleness, resolute faith in Akaal Purakh and orthodox character he won the respect of the local villagers. As time passed and Bhai Sahib’s fame began to grow a bounty of 10 Lakh (1,000,000) Rupee’s was placed on his head.

Bhai Surinder Singh was a humble Gursikh and always travelled on a bicycle. On one occasion a police informant spotted Bhai Sahib and had him captured at the village of Hameera, near Dialpur. Bhai Sahib was taken to the infamous Beeko Interrogation Centre in Batala, where he was tortured immensely. However Bhai Sahib did not speak a word as to the whereabouts of his fellow Singhs or disclose any information on the Jathebandi. Bhai Surinder Singh eventually tortured to death. Bhai Sahib attained Shaheedi on 22nd May 1993.

Article taken from Sikh Shahadat magazine.
Translated by NeverForget84.com

Shaheed Bhai Mangal Singh 'Bamb'

Bhai Mangal Singh ‘Bamb’ was born in the year 1964 in village Arjan Manga, PS Mehta Chowk, Tehsil Baba Bakala, District Amritsar. Upon completing his primary education from the local village school and passing 10th grade at Rangarh Nangal High School, Bhai Mangal Singh began taking responsibility of his household duties. During these times the Sikh freedom movement was at its peak, Sikh youth from across the nation had taken arms to avenge the desecration of their holy shrines and free themselves from the shackles of slavery. Born and raised in a Gursikh family, the concept of self-sacrifice and martial tradition came naturally to Bhai Mangal Singh, consequently he became a recruit of the Khalistan Commando Force and participated in completing many successful actions alongside the Jathebandis Lt. General – Shaheed Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke.

Shaheed Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke

In 1988, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke faced an encounter with the Govt backed fake Nihang Ajit Poohla. Ajit Poohla was a vicious thug who had been given the official police rank of DSP, together with the backing of Police Cheif JF Ribeiro and Punjab Governor SS Ray was given full permission to rape, loot and murder families of Jujharoo Singhs. Despite being outnumbered in the encounter, the KCF Singhs did not back down and accepted the challenge head on, as a firefight took place the Jujharoo Singhs immediately eliminated 2 of Poohlas men and very soon the police CAT along with his gang of cowards were seen escaping in their CRPF jeeps.

The very next morning Poohla attempted to save face and avoid the embarrassment of the nature of his escape by planning another attack on a group of Jujharoo Singhs. On the advice of local Akali leader Jeevan Singh Umranangal a statement was published in Jagbani newspaper on their behalf which read “We have identified Sukhdev Singh Jhamke as the man who attacked Poohla and I. As a result of punishment, ‘Nihang’ Ajit Poohla will bring a 90 year old man to Sukhdev Singh’s village of Jhamke and marry him off to a girl from the village.” In November, 1988 Ajit Poohla reached village Jhamke along with ‘Sarkari Jathedar’ Umranangal, they brought with them a wedding party, group of musicians and a 90 year old man to carry out the humiliating act. The ‘wedding party’ marched through the village until they reached the home of Bhai Jhamke, Poohla instructed the ‘wedding party’ to stop and for the musicians to continue playing as the rest surrounded Bhai Jhamka’s home to began singing, dancing and shouting obscenties. This continued throughout the entire day and news had reached Jujharoo Singhs in the nearby areas. Bhai Mangal Singh met with Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke and together armed with rocket launchers attacked the police post which had been setup to provide security for Umranangal. Both Umranangal and Poohla narrowly escaped this attack but the name of Bhai Mangal Singh was now imprinted in the memory of the enemy.

Bhai Mangal Singh remained with Bhai Jhamke until the fateful day of April 14, 1989 when Bhai Jhamke breathed his last and attained Shaheedi. Bhai Mangal Singh continued with his Panthic Sewa and joined the ranks of the Khalistan Liberation Force under Lt. General – Shaheed Bhai Jugraj Singh ‘Toofan’.

Shaheed Bhai Ravinderbeer Singh 'Bhola' - Lt. General Khalistan Liberation Force

Under the KLF Bhai Mangal Singh participated in a number of successful actions including the kidnap of Congress leader Satpal Mittal’s grandson in order to secure the release of Shaheed Bhai Ravinderbeer Singh ‘Bhola’ who had been arrested by Maharashtra police in the course of their investigation following a sensational bank robbery in the heart of Mumbai (Bambay). Shaheed General Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala planned and executed a number of kidnappings of top MP’s, Judges and senior Govt officials. This series of high profile kidnappings forced Rajiv Gandhi to personally intervene and coordinate the release of Bhai Ravinderbeer Singh ‘Bhola’. During the time the politican’s grandson was held captive, Bhai Mangal Singh personally ensured that the hostage faced no harm and was well looked after. Upon the release of Bhai Ravinderbeer Singh, the hostage was returned home safely and unharmed.

Until 1991 Bhai Mangal Singh operated in and around the Ludhiana District, where impressed by the nature of his daring actions he was given the nickname and began to be known as ‘Bamb’ by the other Singhs active in the area.

One of the Singh’s very close to Bhai Mangal Singh was Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh ‘Buta’ of Ludhiana. In an unfortunate incident as Bhai Beant Singh was returning from a successful hit on a police Thanedar he crossed paths with another Jujharoo group. Bhai Beant Singh was in the disguise of a police officer in order to complete his mission but this led the other group to believe he was indeed an actual police officer, as a result the group fired upon Bhai Beant Singh. Bhai Beant Singh was forced to return fire, in this cruel twist of fate Bhai Beant Singh and another Singh from the other group attained Shaheedi.

On November 5, 1991 Bhai Mangal Singh ‘Bamb’ was en-route to Mehta Chowk when he was intercepted by the Police CATS of village Channan. Bhai Mangal Singh was severely tortured for 2 days which left him unable to walk or use of his arms, but the police were unable to extract any information from this brave soldier. Frustrated with Bhai Mangal Singh’s response to their torture, Bhai Mangal Singh was killed in a fake police encounter. On November 7, 1991 SSP Parmjeet Gill announced to the media:

“Mangal Singh ‘Bamb’ who was wanted in connection with other 30 cases has been killed in an encounter at village Bhoewal near police station Jandiala, a large number of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from him.”

Following Bhai Mangal Singh’s Shaheedi, his body was not released to the family. Large numbers of sangat from surrounding villages and cities wishing to pay their final respects by attending Bhai Mangal Singh’s Bhog were stopped at the entrance of the village by the Police and unable to proceed. The Keertani Jatha sent by Damdami Taksal was also refused entrance to perform Keertan at the Bhog ceremony.

Bhai Mangal Singh ‘Bamb’ following in the footsteps of his beloved brothers and comrades Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke, Bhai Jugraj Singh ‘Toofan’, Bhai Beant Singh ‘Buta’, Bhai Rajwinder Singh ‘Fauji’ & Bhai Ravinderbeer Singh Bhola gave his life for the Sikh nation. Such sacrifices will forever shine on the pages of modern Sikh history and shall never be forgotten.

Written and compiled by NeverForget84.com

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 Jugraj Singh Toofan - Deputy Chief of Khalistan Liberation Force

Shaheed Bhai Jugraj Singh ‘Toofan’ was born in 1971 at village Cheema Khurd. His father Sardar Mohinder Singh, Jugraj Singh have five sisters, being the only son of his parents.

Jugraj Singh was 14-15 years of age in when Indira Gandhi ordered the army attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1984. The destruction of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib left Jugraj Singh saddened and his religious emotions came to the boiling point, he decided to fight against the injustice being carried out against Sikh’s in their own country and he dedicated his life to the Sikh cause from 1984 to April 1990.

Bhai Jugraj Singh used his weapons to protect people and punish those who implicated atrocites on Sikh faith. At a young age he spent some time in Nabha security jail with Shaheed Bhai Manbeer Singh Chaheru and Shaheed Major Baldev Singh Ghuman. Singh’s in jail would tell Jugraj Singh that he is too young and only son of their parents so he should stay at home and take care of the family instead of jumping in the Sikh fight against the state. However, Bhai Sahib always said that he wanted to serve the Sikh panth and he did not care if that cost him his life.

He once in Nabha jail also narrated a incident about how he used his index finger under his shirt to mimic a pistol and receive a ride, as no one was stopping on the road side to pick him up, to reach a important meeting with other Singh’s. All the Singh’s in Nabha jail were impressed by Bhai Sahib’s dedication to panth.

In 1987 Jugraj Singh came in contact with Chief of Khalistan Liberation Force, Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma and participated in Sikh struggle under his command. Jugraj Singh participated in planning and carrying out the assasination of butcher police officer Gobind Ram in Jalandhar, at Punjab Armed Police Headquarters (PAP). After this incident Punjab Police was frantically looking to eliminate Bhai Sahib.

Sikh nation is a nation of martyrs. Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa army out of Shaheeds and only those are Shaheeds who’s Shaheedi is accepted by the Guru himself. Bhai Jugraj Singh Ji never raised his weapon on innocent public and he never participated in looting innocent people. He fought for the nation with a clear conscious and he gave his life for Sikh nation and attained Shaheedi in accordance to his Guru.

Bhai Sahib was a great men of valor who was not only loved by Sikh population but also by Hindus. Many Hindu villagers left their homes to safety during militancy days but in the area where Bhai Jugraj Singh was active, many Hindu families decided to return to their native homes as they felt safe and secure in presence of Jugraj Singh who was fair and protective of all men belonging to different religions. This is an example in itself and a show of high character of a true Sikh.

On early morning of 8th April 1990, at village Mari Butchian near Sri Hargobindpur police and border security force’s surrounded the house were Bhai Sahib was staying for the night and the encounter started. On this day Bhai Sahib was sick and a trusted person went to the city to fetch some medicine for him. When Jugraj Singh started to use his AK 94 gun, he found out that the pin of his gun was missing. At that time Bhai Sahib realized that the person who went to city for medicine was a traitor and he took out the pin form gun and then sent the police on him. All five Singh’s got out of the home to save the innocent lives and ran into the field of sugarcane. Three Singh’s went to one side while Jugraj Singh and Bakshish Singh went the other way. During this gun battle Jugraj Singh got hit by a bullet in his leg and was unable to move, so he asked Bakshish to leave him but Bakshish Singh refused to leave him alone. Bhai Bakshish Singh lifted Jugraj Singh on his shoulder’s and tried to escape on a tractor but tractor got stuck in the field and they were both hit by police bullets. Jugraj Singh died on the tractor while Bakshish Singh hid behind some houses and kept fighting and later died of bullet injuries. Other three Singh’s including Bhai Baljit Singh and Bhai Piara Singh were able to escape from the gun battle.

Almost one thousand Sikh’s and Hindu’s surrounded the police station at Sri Hargobindpur to receive Bhai Sahib’s dead body. On the day of his cremation it is estimated that almost four lakh (400,000) people were gathered to pay him the last tribute which is again an example of itself in the Sikh history. Baba Takhur Singh of Damdami Taksal, Shaheed Major Baldev Singh Ghuman , Simranjit Singh Mann, Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bulara, Bibi Bimal Kaur Khalsa, Justice Ajit Singh Bains paid homage to the great hero’s during the antim ardas of Bhai Sahib. On this day the president of Sri Hargobindpur’s BJP party Mr. Darshan Lal Chopra said that Jugraj Singh was their shield and protected the Hindu’s and today we feel alone after he is gone.

There are three award’s that are given out for Sikh brave men. Surbir Yodha Award, Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Award and Shri Dashmesh Chakar Award. Bhai Fauja Singh Ji of Akhand Kirtan Jatha received Surbir Yodha award on Vaisakhi of 1978, on 4th June 1984 Sant Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, and General Shubeg Singh received Baba Banda Singh Bahadar award, on 31st October 1984 Bhai Beant Singh Ji received Baba Banda Singh Bahadar award and Satwant Singh received Surbir Yodha award. On 8th April 1990 for the first time Bhai Jugraj Singh Ji received Sri Dashmesh Chakar award, which is the highest award given to a Sikh martyr.

Written and compiled by NeverForget84.com