Shaheed Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bittu

Sikh Student Federation

When the Indian army attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib, many fearless singhs of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji gave their lives defending the holy waters of Amritsar. One of the singhs from the defending army of Sikhs was Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bittu, who attained shaheedi on 6th June 1984.

Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bittu was born in the house of Sardar Gurjit Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurnam Kaur in 1969 on the land of Chamiari village, district Ajnala. Bhai Sahib was the 3rd eldest of 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

The massi of a youth, Bhai Gurinder Singh Bhola, originally from Tarn Taran lived in the village of Chamiari, who was close to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale. Bhai Gurinder Singh lived with his massi, to care for her as she was elderly. From the age of 14 onwards, Bhai Sahib and Bhai Gurinder Singh started doing sangat of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale. While in school Bhai Sahib took part in the Sikh Student Federation protests along with his friend from the village, Bhai Balwinder Singh Billa, who also attained shaheedi at Sri Harimandir Sahib.

At a young age Bhai Sahib played with toy guns and swords and also loved playing full contact sports. At the age of 10 Bhai Sahib was a great Kabbadi player, Bhai Sahib was strong and also knew how to use his strength. Where ever there was a 2 man job, Bhai Sahib could do that same job by himself.

Bhai Sahib was a teenager of principles and if Bhai Sahib wanted to do something then he would have it done, only then would Bhai Sahib would rest. No one could change his mind, once it was made up. That’s the reason when Bhai Sahib joined Sikh Student Federation and took part in protests for the Sikh Human Rights, the family of Bhai Sahib could not stop him. The police started coming to Bhai Sahib’s house to arrest him, but Bhai Sahib would jump over walls and always get away and the police always returned empty handed.

May 1984, the Sikh Freedom Movement needed money to carry forward the mission. Bhai Sahib robbed a bank in Ajnala, but the police got onto his tail. Bhai Sahib used his brain and hid into the farms of the Ajnala area and through farms Bhai Sahib reached Amritsar and there Bhai Sahib stayed with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale.

The police again came to arrest Bhai Sahib, but no one was at home, the police then went to the farm and saw Bhai Sahib’s father and grandfather. The police arrested Bhai Sahib’s grandfather, Sardar Gurbachan Singh and told Bhai Sahib’s father, Sardar Gurjit Singh to bring the 12’gadge shotgun, which was licenced on Sardar Gurbachan Singh’s name to the police station. The police also took the family tractor, which the family used for farming. Stressed out Sardar Gurjit Singh went to see the Congress Minister, Harcharan Singh Ajnala who straight away said no to help, then Sardar Gurjit Singh went to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale and explained what had happened. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale rang the police officer of Ajnala Police Station and said, “I have Sardar Gurbachan Singh’s 12’gadge shotgun, I had to use it. I’m sending Sardar Gurjit Singh to the police station, you can arrest him if you want.” After saying this Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale put the phone down and told Sardar Gurjit Singh, “You go to the police station and wait there, if they arrest you then I will deal with the police.”

Now Sardar Gurjit Singh arrived at the Ajnala police station and made the police aware of his presence. The scared police started talking amongst themselves on what to do. It was evening and the police officer made their minds up and released Sardar Gurbachan Singh, the police was so scared that they dropped the family of Bhai Sahib at home.

The saint soldier of the 20th century, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale had the great power which the Indian government did not like. Towards the end of May 1984 the Indian government was at their last stages of planning to eliminate the Khalsa. 1st June 1984 the CRP fired bullets towards Sri Darbar Sahib. Bullets were fired at Sri Harimandir Sahib for 1 hour, this was the reason why many Gursikhs attained shaheedi. Total of 12-13 Sikhs were killed in that firing of 1hour, Sikhs such as Bhai Mengha Singh Babbar and Bhai Balwinder Singh Billa.

But the CRP only seized fire to allow the Indian army to plan their invasion Sri Harimandir Sahib. Inside Sri Harimandir Sahib, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale and General Subeg Singh gave orders to the singhs, who were defending the holy land of Sikhs against the government of Delhi.

The army started coming inside the complex of Sri Darbar Sahib on 4th June 1984. On one side the Indian army was winning in numbers and the range of top weapons, on the other side 150-200 Singhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, who were willing to die for the believes of the Sikh faith and would fight till the Indian army moves of the complex of Sri Harimandir Sahib. This was the reason why the Sikh army faught for so long against one of the world’s strongest army on empty stomachs. The top generals of the world have and will praise the courage and strength of Sikhs shown at the battle of June 1984.

In the Battle, 16 year old Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bittu faught with his gun from the bunkers of langar hall entrance. Bhai Sahib was sending the Indian army to hell which stepped into Sri Harimandir Sahib with their shoes on. At this bunker with Bhai Sahib was Bhai Nindar Singh also from the village of Chamiari and Bhai Baldev Singh Barapind. After fighting for 3 days Bhai Sahib attained shaheedi when the Indian army bullet hit him in the chest, Bhai Nindar Singh Chamiari and Bhai Baldev Singh Barapind were arrested after they were wounded and could not fight back due to not having ammunition.

When the news of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale’s shaheedi got to Ajnala police station, the police went to Bhai Sahib’s house and arrested Sardar Gurjit Singh and Sardar Gurbachan Singh. the family was taken to the police station and questioned about Bhai Sahib’s location but the family said that Bhai Sahib had attained shaheedi at Sri Harimandir Sahib but the police did not belive that. The truth is the police wanted to see if Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bindranwale was alive, because if Sant Ji was alive then he would ring the police station to have his singhs instantly released. No one rang the police station to have the innocent Sikhs released, now the police and informants were fearless to attack innocent Sikhs.

The police kept the family of Bhai Sahib in illegal custody for many weeks, the relatives’ police officers of Bhai Sahib’s family got involved and showed the photos of singhs that had attained shaheedi at Sri Harimandir Sahib from the album the Indian government had prepared. The police then released the family.

Bhai Nindar Singh Chamiari and Bhai Baldev Singh Barapind were later released from the Jodhpur Jail. The family of Shaheed Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bittu hold a shaheedi smagam in the village of Chamiari, every year on 6th June in memory of Bhai Sahib.

Purja Purja Kat Maray – Baljit Singh Khalsa