Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Dunneke

Khalistan Liberation Force

Bhai Amrik Singh was born in the year of 1966, in the house of Sardar Gurdev Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurbachan Kaur in the village of Jassi Bagwali near Jaisinghwala, district Bathinda. Bhai Sahib had 3 brothers and 1 sister. Bhai Sahib was born in a Gursikh farming household. During the partition in 1947, Bhai Sahib’s grandfather was displaced from Bahawalpur, Pakistan and the family arrived and settled in Dunneke, Moga. Bhai Sahib’s father, Sardar Gurdev Singh shifted to Jassi Bagwali, in the Bathinda district for a short while before returning to Dunneke, Moga.

Bhai Sahib completed his studies up to 12th class in Dunneke’s government school and later started working with a doctor based in Moga. Along with his job, Bhai Sahib also completed his ‘Giani’ studies and BA from DM College. Bhai Sahib was also an avid participant of sports and particularly loved Kabaddi. Bhai Sahib was quite youthful and active, he had a sweet temperament and never got impatient with anyone. Bhai Sahib always took on his father’s admonitions with good spirit. Because Bhai Sahib was born in a Gursikh family, he also took Amrit from the Panj Pyare in his childhood. Bhai Sahib was a regular in his daily prayers (Nitnem) and was loved by his community for his kindness.

Anyone who loved and lived Sikhi, was left in never ending pain after the attack of Sri Darbar Sahib in June 1984, Bhai Sahib was amongst the Sikhs who were deeply affected. In 1985, Bhai Sahib happened to be acquainted with Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala. During this time, Bhai Sahib was in his BA 2nd year at DM College. It was during this time, that Bhai Sahib decided to serve the Sikh community and joined Khalistan Liberation Force under the command of Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala. Bhai Sahib had gained respect in the organization due to his educational background, he served with sincerity and made sure that all religions and castes were treated equally. Bhai Sahib took responsibility for Hindu families to be relocated in their homes and vehemently opposed the looting parties that used the name of Jhujaru Singhs to rob and loot innocent families of Punjab. During his service, Bhai Sahib regularly came face to face with the Punjab police and ended many a butchers’ lives. Bhai Sahib was loved by his community irrespective of their religion.

On the night of 26th – 27th May 1987, Bhai Amrik Singh of Dunneke village, went to visit his friend Bhai Manjit Singh alias Mini Baba (son of Sardar Gurdev Singh, Old Moga) in the Gurdwara Sahib of village Jogewala near Moga. At this time, Bhai Sahib had left his assault rifle near a pond outside the Gurdwara Sahib and was now unarmed. The information about their presence in the village was passed on to the Punjab police and as soon as both of the Jhujaru Singhs came out of the Gurdwara Sahib, they were surrounded by the Indian security forces and a curfew was imposed in the village. In an effort to get a hold of their arms and weapons, both Bhai Amrik Singh Dunneke and Bhai Manjit Singh alias Mini Baba jumped into a pond near the Gurdwara. This is when Indian security personnel started shooting blindly at both of the Jhujaru Singhs. Bhai Sahib tried to reach his arms till his last breath, but the incessant firing by the Punjab police caused both the friends to attain martyrdom. After their death, both their bodies were not handed over to their families; rather both were cremated at Moga cremation grounds by the police in presence of their families. Bhai Amrik Singh Dunneke’s martyrdom caused widespread criticism of Punjab police from his community. Even today, he is remembered with love by all those whose lives he touched with his kindness and compassion.

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Dunneke