Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh alias Gabbar Singh

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

Bhai Balkar Singh was born in the year of 1964, in the house of Sardar Bakshish Singhs and from the womb of Mata Kashmir Kaur, in the village of Othian, Ajnala. Bhai Sahib was the second eldest of 6 children, Bibi Rajwant Kaur, Bhai Balkar Singh, Bibi Sukhwant Kaur, Bhai Jagtar Singh, Bibi Jaswant Kaur and Bhai Bachittar Singh. Sardar Bakshish Singh’s family were all Gursikhs and he provided for his family via farming on his land. Bhai Sahib studied up to 5th class in the government school of Othian. Bhai Sahib had just passed his 5th class when his father, Sardar Bakshish Singh passed away. Bhai Sahib was the eldest son, and even though he was very young at age, Bhai Sahib took on all responsibilities of his family. From farming to getting his siblings educated and his elderly mother receiving medical treatment.

In 1983, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale came to Othian village during the Dharam Yudh Morcha to preach Sikhi and make the locals aware of the injustices Sikhs and Punjabis were suffering. Bhai Sahib from start was in love with Sikhi and its ideology, but it was here Bhai Sahib listened to the speech of Sant Ji and took Amrit from the Panj Pyare. Bhai Sahib recited his prayers on time every day and also wore the Khalsa Bana, the Sikh attire. After taking Amrit, Bhai Sahib would regularly go to Sant Ji to listen to his speeches and would sometimes stay there to do Sewa.

During the attack on Sri Akaal Takht Sahib in June 1984, Bhai Sahib was in his village. The attack and the killing of innocent Sikhs had a deep impact on Bhai Sahib. In his mind and heart, Bhai Sahib wanted to avenge the attack on the Sikh throne. In search of revenge, Bhai Sahib met Bhai Sukhdev Singh Padhri and through him Bhai Sahib met Bhai Satnam Singh Sheena of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan, it was from here Bhai Sahib became involved in the Sikh freedom movement. At first Bhai Sahib continued to do Jhujaru actions in secret, but later the Punjab police knew about Bhai Sahib’s involvement and he then left home to do Sewa within the Sikh struggle for freedom. Bhai Sahib remained in high spirits and continued to do actions under the command of Bhai Satnam Singh Sheena.

Within the Sikh freedom movement, Bhai Sahib had the honour of doing Sewa beside brave and courageous Jhujaru Singhs such as Bhai Gurbachan Singh Tohra (village Mukam, near Chamyari), Bhai Balvir Singh (village Kolewal), Bhai Major Singh (village Kolewal), Bhai Sukhdev Singh Padhri and man others. Bhai Sahib did many brave actions and also took responsibilities for them too in the media. In search of Bhai Sahib, the Punjab police raided many places, eventually the police started targeting Bhai Sahib’s family and takin their anger of not finding Bhai Sahib upon the innocent family members. The Punjab police stooped to the level in which they tortured Bhai Sahib’s mother and his younger brothers and sisters. Once Bhai Sahib’s Nani had come to see the family and she was also beaten and harassed by the Punjab police. Every other day the Punjab police and CRPF would surround Bhai Sahib’s house and search it, in the process they would harass and beat family members too. All these atrocities of the Punjab police reached Bhai Sahib in detail and it still didn’t sway Bhai Sahib of his goal of freedom. The Punjab police had put 40,000 Rupees on Bhai Sahib’s head.

On 23rd October 1987, Bhai Sahib along with Bhai Major Singh Kolewal and Bhai Balvir Singh Kolewal were staying in a house situated on the outskirts of village Kolewal, near Khyala. All 3 Jhujaru Singhs were unarmed, and this information was given to the Punjab police by an informer. The Punjab police would hit gold mine when they would get information on Jhujaru Singhs, especially when they were unarmed. The police force of 3 areas, Lopoke, Amritsar and Ajnala along with heavy numbers of CRPF armed personnel surrounded the house in which the Jhujaru Singhs were resting. Bhai Sahib didn’t want to be caught by the Indian security forces and gave his martyrdom by swallowing a capsule of cyanide. Meanwhile, his 2 Jhujaru brothers were arrested, they were tortured blindly for 8 days, in the end they were also made martyrs in false encounter by the Punjab police. Bhai Sahib body was displayed in the media as if the police had made him a martyr in a fierce encounter. Bhai Sahib’s body was not given to the family. The Punjab police continued to harass and beat the family members of Bhai Sahib even after his martyrdom.

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh alias Gabbar Singh