Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Shatrana

Khalistan Commando Force

 

Bhai Amrik Singh was born to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Pritam Kaur and father, Sardar Gurbachan Singh in the village of Shatrana, district Patiala. Bhai Amrik Singh was one of seven children and the eldest of his siblings. He had three sisters and three brothers, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, Bibi Harjit Kaur, Bhai Balwinder Singh, Bibi Paramjeet Kaur and Bibi Sarabjeet Kaur. Bhai Amrik Singh studied up to tenth grade at his local village school. Later, Bhai Amrik Singh’s family arranged his marriage with Bibi Balwinder Kaur and were blessed with two sons, Yadwinder Singh and Amrinder Singh.

 

In June 1984, when the Indian government sent its army to attack Sri Harmandir Sahib, Bhai Amrik Singh rallied his local villagers to make their way to Amritsar in protest. But the heavy presence of Indian army all over Punjab did not allow for them to travel and ordered them to return back to their village. The events 1984 had a huge impact on Bhai Amrik Singh. So much so that he pledged to join the armed struggle and fight for freedom of Khalistan. Bhai Amrik Singh joined Khalistan Commando Force, fighting alongside his fellow Jhujaru brother, Bhai Jarnail Singh Shatrana.

 

The Punjab police had come to know of his involvement in the armed struggle and soon his family members were being targeting. The police began to harass all family members and summoned Bhai Amrik Singh to attend the local police station. Bhai Amrik Singh then presented himself on 3rd November 1992. In addition, the police had also ordered other Singhs from the locality.  For up to fifteen days, the police inflicted treacherous amount of torture unto the Jhujaru Singhs. The police then ordered and kept Bhai Amrik Singh under remand where he then faced further torture and brutal treatment. Bhai Amrik Singh was kept in prison up until 24th November 1992, when he was then taken by the police to the border of Punjab and Haryana and killed him under a fake encounter. Bhai Amrik Singh attained Shaheedi (martyrdom) on this day.

 

Two other Jhujaru Singhs who were arrested the same time, were also killed on the same day attaining martyrdom – Bhai Taranjeet Singh Shatrana and Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Shatrana. The other three Singhs were released.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Shatrana