Shaheed Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

During the Sikh Struggle for freedom, what injustices one Sikh family faced at the hands of the Indian government will be penned down here. The son of this family was a Jhujaru Singh. Every day the Punjab police would raid the house of this family and any family member present would be arrested. The family were made victims to Gould language, indecent harassment and faced blind torture during their remand at police stations. This family was labelled as the family of a terrorist and a separatist. After facing great ordeal of injustices, the father grabs his 315 rifle and points it at his son’s chest and says, “Oye Jeetaya, Oye Jeetaya, either leave this movement or prepare to die. Because we can’t take this cruel torture anymore, all this is happening because of you.” Upon hearing this, the son also replied shouting, “Bapu Ji, open fire and shoot me in my chest, but as long as I’m alive I will never leave the struggle for my Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Because I have vowed to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale that I will fight for the rights of the Sikhs and to avenge the spilt blood of the Sikhs till my last breath. Like this Jeeta had declared that he will attain freedom or martyrdom to his father. Upon hearing his son’s reply the father removed his gun and hugged him and said, “My son, that’s all I wanted to see. After all the torture we’ve gone through that you won’t turn your back on the Khalistan movement.”

So let’s see who this Jeeta was. A Sikh youth by the name of Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta was from a small village Herian, district Hoshiarpur. Bhai Sahib was born in the house of Subedar Gurmukh Singh and from the womb of Mata Darshan Kaur on 12th October 1961. Bhai Sahib was the youngest of 3 brothers and he had one younger sister. Bhai sahib was loved by all and got the nickname Jeeta, who knew that this Jeeta would do great actions for the Sikh nation and one day give his life for Sikhi and make his family proud.

Bhai Sahib’s siblings Bhai Balvir Singh, Bhai Pargat Singh and Bibi Balwinder Kaur supported him during the Sikh Freedom Movement. Bhai Sahib’s father, Subedar Gurmukh Singh was in the Indian army and fought the battles of 1962, 1965, 1971 and then until his retirement in 1976, he did his duty as a soldier bravely in Bangalore, Jaipur, Jodhpur and other cities. This family had great amount of love for Jathedar Baba Nihal Singh of Harian Bela Nihang Dal. From his childhood, Bhai Sahib along with his family would go to worship at Gurdwara of Baba Jawala Singh Ji of Harkhowal. Bhai Sahib would also do a lot of Sewa at his local Gurdwara of Herian and he would love to go on pilgrims to historic Gurdwaras.

Like this Bhai Sahib along with his friends would go on pilgrims to Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Akaal Takht Sahib and Sri Hazur Sahib. After passing his Metric studies, Bhai Sahib took admission into ITI Hoshiarpur. During this time the Dharam Yudh Morcha was at its peak. Bhai Sahib started attending the lectures of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale and soon Bhai Sahib made his mind up to help the Sikh nation steer its way out of injustices that were faced by the community. From 25th to 30th June 1983, a camp was held at Sri Paonta Sahib by All India Sikh Student Federation under the command of President Bhai Amrik Singh. Bhai Sahib attended this camp and it was from here that Bhai Sahib’s life changed.

After returning from the camp, Bhai Sahib started reading into the Sikh code of conduct and also the Sikh history. On 22nd October 1983, Bhai Sahib was blessed with Amrit from the Panj Pyare and he also spent time with Singh Sahibans to discuss giving his head to the Sikh Panth. Bhai Sahib then became a disciple of Bani and Bana, he had occupied his mind into the meditation of Waheguru. After this, Bhai Sahib took on the responsibilities of doing Gurmat Parchar and also taking part in Jhujaru actions around the Doaba area. Bhai Sahib was 6 feet and 3 inches tall, sharp eyes, glowing face, always spoke the words of warriors, had the pain in his heart for the Sikh nation and all this was a thorn in the eyes of the Punjab police.

In June 1984, the Indian army destroyed Sri Akaal Takht Sahib and killed many innocent Sikhs. Then in November 1984, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the government committed the Sikh genocide. Not being able to forget this, Bhai Sahib along with his close Singhs such as Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli, Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli, Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma, and Bhai Surinder Singh Shinda decided to join the Jhujaru Singhs to establish a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. All these Singhs jumped into the armed struggle to avenge the killing of their innocent brothers and sisters. Bhai Sahib joined Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan under the command of Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. Soon Bhai Sahib was made the Area Commander of the area from Doaba, Ropar to Pathankot. But as well as doing actions under Baba Manochahal, Bhai Sahib also did most of his actions with Dusht Sodh Force.

Bhai Sahib assassinated many traitors, criminals and touts. Bhai Sahib did many big actions in the Doaba area. The Punjab police and Indian army were scared of Bhai Sahib’s name and he gained much respect amongst the Jhujaru brotherhood. One day Bhai Sahib was at home completing few jobs, the police found out and surrounded the area to arrest him. When the police entered the house, Bhai Sahib shouted, “Oye, if you have any strength in you then come and arrest me.” Upon hearing this no police officer could gather courage to go near Bhai Sahib. Then Bhai Sahib said, “Come on, come on police officers. Arrest your father, come forward I will show you stars.” After hearing this all the police officers got scared and started whispering amongst each other. During this time, Bhai Sahib escaped from the back door shouting war cries and the police were made a fool of in front of the whole village. The frustrated police then started questioning the brothers of Bhai Sahib, but Bhai Balvir Singh and Bhai Pargat Singh replied, “You fools, he was in front of you, didn’t you see him?” Then the police had been embarrassed enough for one day and left the village.

Like this another day Bhai Sahib was travelling home on a bicycle, and the Thanedar from the Herian police station was also on the same road travelling on a motorcycle. When the Thanedar saw Bhai Sahib he put his down as if he hasn’t seen Bhai Sahib, this was due to the fear the Indian security forces had of Bhai Sahib. Bhai Sahib’s brother, Bhai Pargat Singh said, “Jeetaya, the police are looking for you all over.” Hearing this Bhai Sahib replied, “Dear Brother, we are also looking for them. When they see us they run in the opposite direction.”

On many occasions Bhai Sahib had fierce battles with Indian security forces and everytime he defeated the enemy. On 26th September 1986, the Jhujaru Singhs assassinated Comrade Darshan Singh Canadian. This Comrade Darshan Singh had always used foul words towards Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale and Jhujaru Singhs. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale was and is high respectable role model to the Sikh nation, but this Comrade Darshan would use words like Bhindru, Terrorist and the murderer of Hindus towards Sant Ji. Darshan Comrade was the MLA from village Langeri, in the Garhshankar area. The Punjab police arrested Bhai Sahib in this case and for 9 days Bhai Sahib was blindly tortured. The families of Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli and Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli who were the presidents of the Hoshiarpur area were also tortured by Punjab police.

Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli’s father, Sardar Ajit Singh was arrested and taken to Mehalpur police station. At this time the Mehalpur police had accused Bhai Sahib, Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli and Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli of planning the assassination of Darshan Comrade in the canteen of Mehalpur collage. The lease of this canteen was in the name of Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli and the Jhujaru Singhs had easy access in and out of the campus.

The blind torture of Punjab police had weakened Bhai Sahib’s body but not his spirit. Bhai Sahib came out on bail but the police still continued to harass him. Then in the end Bhai Sahib gathered his family members and expressed his feelings on leaving home and joining his Jhujaru brothers on the battlefield. Upon hearing this, the family asked, “Jeetaya, if you leave than what will happen to us?” Bhai Sahib said, “The king of kings, Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj will look after you.” Then Bhai Sahib forever left his family and upped his actions even more to progress towards the Sikh homeland. Then in 1987, when Bhai Jasvir Singh Lalli attained martyrdom, the Hindus of Barian Kalan village celebrated this occasion by giving out sweets. Bhai Sahib wrote a letter to the village which read, “Our Jhujaru brother has attained martyrdom and you are celebrating this. Stop this now or the Khalsa Panth will send you to hell.” But the extremist Hindus continued to give sweets out even more now. It is noted that even in June 1984, when Sri Darbar Sahib was attacked the Hindus of this village and around the country were celebrating the storming of Sikh throne.

At night, Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli, Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma and Bhai Satvir Singh Shinda attacked the Hindu shopkeepers who had celebrated the martyrdom of a Jhujaru Singh and killed 10 people. While the Singhs were doing this action a woman standing on the rooftops threw a brick at Bhai Pamma in which he was injured. Bhai Sahib shot the woman in the head from far away and put her to sleep forever. The locals and the police force were shocked in how these Jhujaru Singhs managed to aim accurately in the darkness of the night. The police force was so frustrated at Bhai Sahib, because with only 5 Singhs Bhai Sahib controlled the whole area. The police officers that commuted crimes upon Jhujaru Singhs and their families were hunted down and killed by Bhai Sahib.

On 2nd November 1987, Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Palli, Bhai Satvir Singh Shinda and Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma were heavily kitted up with armoury and stopped at water tubal in the outskirts of Badla village. This water tubal belonged to the local Sarpanch there by the name of Didar Singh, he portrayed himself to be a supporter of Akali Dal. Bhai Sahib told the servant that was working at the farms to go to Didar Singh and prepare langar for the Singhs. But this Didar Singh mixed sleeping tablets into milk and sent it to the Singhs. At the same time he informed the CRPF about these Jhujaru Singhs. Shortly after Bhai Sahib and his Jhujaru brothers started falling asleep after drinking the milk. The CRPF had surrounded the Singhs but was scared of closing in on these lions of Khalistan. First the Indian soldiers forced the servant to unarm the sleeping Singhs and then the CRPF pounced on the Singhs. They were taken to the police station and for many days faced blind torture. The Singhs were burned with hot irons and tied to poles and beaten endlessly. Then the Singhs were stabbed with slim red hot iron rods and electrocuted until they fell unconscious. In the end the arms and legs were broken of the Singhs. This information was taken from the post-mortem of these Jhujaru Singhs. According to an eye witness, the sons of Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj did not utter no other word but Waheguru during torture. In the end on 3rd November 1987, about 3:45am, the half dead bodies of the Bhai Sahib and Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma were taken to the village of Nainowal, where they were tied to mango trees and made martyrs in fake encounter. The other two Jhujaru Singhs, Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Pally and Bhai Satvir Singh Shinda were taken to another location in Hoshiarpur and also made martyrs in false encounters.

Khalsa Fatehnama – June 2016