Shaheed Bhai Bachittar Singh Teeka

Khalistan Commando Force

Sura so pehchaniye, jo larai din ke het,

He alone is known as a spiritual hero, who fights in defense of religion.

 

Purja Purja kat marai kabhu na chaddai khet. 

He may be cut apart, piece by piece, but he never leaves the field of battle.

 

Bhai Bachittar Singh Teeka was born on Sunday the 20th November 1975 in the village of Mehta, district Amritsar. Bhai Sahib’s father was Sardar Jagir Singh Randhawa and mother was Mata Surinder Kaur. After Bhai Sahib’s birth, the parents took him to Gurudwara Gurdarshan Parkash, Chownk Mehta where the letter B came in the Hukamnama. Sant Kartar Singh Ji Bhindranwale was also at the Gurudwara on that day and said, “We’ll name this Bhujangi, Bhai Bachittar Singh, the warrior who fought the elephant. He will be a very high spirited singh.” Bhai Sahib studied at Dasmesh Public School in Chownk Mehta up till 8th class and then up till 10th class Bhai Sahib studied at a high school in Mehta Nangal.

At the age of 11, Bhai Sahib took amrit from the Panj Pyare at Chownk Mehta. From here Bhai Sahib started learning Santhaya od Gurbani and Sikh history from Bhai Puran Singh Raagi and at home Bhai Sahib learnt Kirtan from his older brother, Bhai Baldev Singh Hazuri Raagi Sri Darbar Sahib. Bhai Sahib took part in Kirtan competitions at various Gurudwaras such as Baba Bakala Sahib, Goindwal Sahib, Khalsa Diwan Amritsar etc and won many trophies.

In 1986, one of Bhai Sahib’s brother, Bhai Harjinder Singh was travelling on a tractor beside the river in Amo Nangal. This was during a time when innocent Sikhs with a turban were being kidnapped and killed in fake encounters by the Indian security forces. It is said that Bhai Harjinder Singh was signalled to stop by the Punjab police as he travelled on his tractor at a checkpoint. The following day the police announced they had chased a Khadku Singh beside a river in Amo Nangal which resulted in the tractor and the Khadku Singh drowning into the river. This was no Khadku Singh, this was an innocent Sikh, the brother of Bhai Sahib who had been killed by the Indian security forces. This had a big impact of Bhai Sahib especially after the police came to the family home and searched the house as well as verbally and physically abused the family members. Bhai Sahib was carefully watching this injustice take place in front of his eyes.

The continuous attacks on Sri Harimandir Sahib, the disrespect of Gurudwaras, the killings of innocent Sikh youths in fake police encounters made Bhai Sahib change his attitude. On daily basis Bhai Sahib would think about taking revenge for the injustices taking place on the Sikhs. Bhai Sahib would never miss his daily Nitnem and would regularly do long meditations of Gurbani.

Once as Bhai Sahib went to school, he met the Jhujaru Singhs from the group of Bhai Jarnail Singh Booh and Bhai Balwinder Singh Fattu Dinga, soon Bhai Sahib joined the Khalistan Commando Force and never returned home after. Bhai Sahib gave up the family attachment to do the sewa of the panth. Bhai Sahib had exchanged the love of his family for an assault rifle and exchanged the luxuries of home for the thorns of the jungle.

On 25th October 1991, Bhai Sahib battled with BSF and Punjab police for 3 hours on GT Road near the village of Umrah Nangal. It was at 5 o’clock in the evening when Bhai Sahib attained shaheedi as he fired bullets towards the enemy. The BSF showed their bravery by pulling the hair of Bhai Sahib’s dead body and shouting, “He wanted Khalistan, he has now got it.” The local SP of Punjab police mocked the BSF by saying, “When he was alive, no one went near him. But now he has died your pulling his hair and challenging him. What brave people you are.” The shaheedi saroop of Bhai Sahib was not given to the family. Bhai Sahib’s body was cremated without the presence of his family at crematory in Amritsar’s Seetala Mandir.

Sardar Jagir Singh Randhawa told us some of the actions Bhai Sahib did in his Jhujaru life:

  • In the village of Ratrha Tibba, Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs attacked an Indian security base. Jhujaru Singhs killed 10 soldiers and looted their armoury.
  • Near the Beas area, Bhai Sahib’s group attacked a local police station and killed 4 soldiers.
  • In the village of Booh, Bhai Sahib punished a very big police informant who had played a part in the killing of many singhs.
  • In the village of Gagrhewal Chaggi, Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs were surrounded by 4000 plus Indian soldiers. The Jhujaru Singhs faught and Bhai Sahib managed to escape.
  • During the encounter in which Bhai Sahib attained shaheedi in the village of Umrah Nangal, Bhai Sahib killed 7 BSF soldiers and wounded another 8 soldiers.

Awaze Quam –  3rd September 1992