Shaheed Bhai Daljeet Singh Jheeta
Shaheed Bhai Daljeet Singh Jheeta
Khalistan Commando Force
If we learn about these great martyrs
Our hearts will forever remember them
One day the night of slavery will be erased
Bringing about freedom which will last for eternity, lifetimes upon lifetimes.
Bhai Daljit Singh was born in 1966 to the blessed womb of mother Mata Jeet Kaur and father Jathedar Sardar Dhrit Singh in the village of Chavan near Tanda, Hoshiarpur. Bhai Daljit Singh was a sibling of four sisters and a younger brother – Bibi Jasvinder Kaur, Bibi Hardev Kaur, Bhai Daljit Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh, Bibi Balvir Kaur and Bibi Jasvir Kaur. Bhai Daljit Singh studied up to tenth grade and then went on to work alongside his father and family in cultivating and farming their land, selling their crops and produce to earn a living.
In 1986, Bhai Daljit Singh was only 20 years of age when his family arranged his marriage to Bibi Baljinder Kaur. They were blessed with two sons – Jasbir Singh and Lakhbir Singh. Living a very honest lifestyle and a big believer in his faith, Bhai Daljit Singh was baptised and blessed with Amrit. Bhai Daljit Singh took to learning the correct reading and recitation of the entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, known as Santhaya. Once complete, Bhai Daljit Singh would regularly partake in a full reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, known as the Sri Akhand Paath Sahib.
Following the attack by the Indian government on Sri Harmandir Sahib in June 1984 and the concurrent attacks on upto forty other Gurdwaras, there was no question about it that the Indian government had openly declared discrimination and war against the Sikhs of India. A fine line had now been drawn between the Sikhs and Hindustan. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale awoke the Sikh nation and the youth of the day spearheading the movement and the call for Khalistan, our very own independent state. The Sikh struggle and the fight for freedom began. The Singhs took it upon themselves to find these perpetrators and twist the neck of these enemies.
In 1986, the Jhujaru Singhs of the Khalistan Commando Force would regularly visit the Gurdwara in the village of Chavan. This is where Bhai Daljit Singh came into contact with Bhai Sarabjit Singh Johal and Bhai Iqbal Singh Bagha. He very quickly became acquainted and close to the singhs of this militia group and had the urge to participate where he could. The Singhs soon began to come and go to Bhai Daljit Singh’s home where he would ensure they were served with food and a place to rest. His family served with great humility and grace.
However, it wasn’t long before someone from the village area touted out the family to the police. After this, the police would raid the house on a daily basis and harass the family. Bhai Daljit Singh had only been married for up to two months. But he now knew there was no way he was able to stay here. So, he made a decision to leave and go underground. His wife, Bibi Baljinder Kaur also made the decision to go with her husband and dedicate her life to the cause alongside her partner.
Bhai Daljit Singh joined the Khalistan Commando Force to fight for the cause of Khalistan our very own nation state and he served with them for four years.
Bhai Daljit Singh fought alongside the other great warriors from the Khalistan Commando Force – Bhai Gurdev Singh Debu, Bhai Daljit Singh Bhikhi, Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma, Bhai Iqbal Singh Bagha, Bhai Lembhar Singh, Bhai Joginder Singh Jindu, Bhai Swaranjit Singh Bishrampur, Bhai Makhan Singh, Bhai Amritpal Singh Khalsa, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Deepa Heranwala, Bhai Baljit Singh Phagwara, Bhai Satnam Singh Satta, Bhai Jassa Singh Gardhiwala, Bhai Roshan Lal Beragi, Bhai Kuldip Singh Deepa, Bhai Ranjit Singh Bittu, Bhai Kulwinder Singh Kittu. During the four years serving with the Khalistan Commando Force, Bhai Daljit Singh served justice and sent many anti-Sikh elements to the doors of death. This included black cats, traitors, informants, whistle-blowers, those who carried out tortures, police officers and numerous comrades.
Bhai Daljit Singh was steadfast and committed to the cause and wanted to see a progressive rise so that the ultimate goal of Khalistan could be achieved. For this very reason, he ensured good rapport and relations with all other Sikh Jhujaru groups working towards the same goal. This showed the level of his character, putting aside all differences and working together for the collective aim. In Hoshiarpur, he worked to recruit thousands of Sikh youth to join the armed movement all whilst risking his own life for the cause. Throughout this, Bhai Daljit Singh’s wife stood by his side and fully supported him, even though it was a complete lifestyle of uncertainty and full of risk not knowing what was round the corner. Still together, they remained together and dedicated to the cause together.
Bhai Daljit Singh like many other Jhujaru Singhs had a will of steel, forsaking all comforts in life. He endured the hot sweaty air in the months of July and August spending hot nights hidden in the cotton fields. He also endured the freezing cold nights of December and January in the open air without no cover or duvet. Fighting a guerrilla warfare is no small task and is by no means easy. Despite this, Bhai Daljit Singh always remained positive and never wavered in from his high spirits. Rather, he made moves that saw growth and progression towards the goal for freedom and Khalistan. Bhai Daljit Singh proclaimed openly when he charred the enemies with bullets. It was made sure the Khalistan Commando Force Jhujaru group openly claimed responsibility for all actions undertaken via the daily newspapers the very next day.
Even through these treacherous times, Bhai Daljit Singh never failed to rise early dawn to conduct his daily prayers, the Nitnem and in the evenings he would sit together with his wife to recite the evening prayers. This showed their love and utmost dedication to their Guru and Sikhi, first and foremost. Bhai Daljit Singh Jheeta would always say that the light from Gurbani is what gives us the bravery and strength to fight as we are and it is with the guidance of Gurbani that we can acquire the Khalsa Raj and the wellness of the entire humanity.
Begum Pura Saher kau nao
The city without sorrow, is the name of the town
Dookh Andau Nahi Tehe Tao
There is no suffering or anxiety there
Na Tasvees Khiraj n Maal
There are no troubles or taxes on commodities there
Khauf n Khata n taras jvaal
There is no fear, blemish or downfall there.
Under the rule of Khalsa Raj, no one will suffer pain or despair. It will be like a Gurdwara where no one is discriminated against, all are equal and a place where both your physical and spiritual needs will be fulfilled.
Raj Karega Khalsa Aaki Rahe Na Koye
The Khalsa will rule and the rebels will be eliminated
Sabh Sukhali Vootiya Eho hoa Halemi Raaj Jio
Let all abide in peace, under this benevolent rule.
Bhai Daljit Singh had also been a keen writer during this time and had some ideals and letters written addressed to the Sikh nation. However, during the time he was tortured, the unrest his family suffered with harassment by the police, these were lost.
During the time Bhai Daljit Singh Jheeta was serving with the Khalistan Commando Force, the Police began to harass his family. The police from Hajipur arrested his brother, Bhai Amrik Singh and mercilessly tortured him. He was tortured with a roller on his legs and his turban was physically removed and insulted. They were unable to retrieve any information from Bhai Daljit Singh’s brother. He was then taken to another police station in Dasuya, where he was further tortured. The police even went to the extent of looting their house, cut the tails of their home bred cows and took anything else they could get their hands on.
If there was any event occurring in the area or the elimination of any one of the perpetrators, the police would immediately arrest Bhai Amrik Singh, solely due to his relation to Bhai Daljit Singh Jheeta. At one time, Bhai Daljit Singh’s Jhujaru group fell into a dispute and this affected the morale of the Singhs involved. Slowly, but surely Bhai Daljit supported in mediating this internal feud and helped get it resolved without any detrimental impact to the ongoing efforts towards the freedom movement.
In 1990, Bhai Daljit Singh was on his motorbike on his way towards Nawanshahr where he collided in an accident with a truck. Bhai Daljit Singh was severely injured, receiving 88 stitches and was finding it difficult to walk. After his treatment, he then made his way to a relative’s home in the village of Bagwain (near Garshankar) and spent three days with this family. Here he met an acquaintance, someone he knew, from the village of Behram, Bhogpur. He insisted Bhai Daljit Singh to go with him to his home where he will look after him. Bhai Daljit Singh agreed and went to stay with this Singh. He was on into his third day staying here when things turned an unfortunate event. This acquaintance was actually a tout for the Punjab police. The owner made an excuse and took his family out whilst guiding the police that the coast was clear to enter the house. It was late at night around 11pm, when a heavy force of police personnel surrounded the village.
Bhai Daljit Singh was already severely injured from his accident and was unable to move or protect and defend himself. He didn’t even have the strength to pick up his AK47 firearm. A heinous police officer known as Ghora, rashly broke down the front door and captured Bhai Daljit Singh, where he was picked up, thrown into the back of the police jeep and taken to Hoshiarpur police station. It was no surprise that the evil police took no mercy on Bhai Daljit Singh to the extent of torture he was given. But such like our great Sikh ancestors, who braved even worse conditions, Bhai Daljit Singh could be seen uttering the name of God continuously. ”Waheguru, Waheguru”, He remained loyal and did not disclose any information. The police, which had now become a killing machine, kept Bhai Daljit Singh for two days mercilessly torturing him, then in a half battered state took him to a nearby village of Handowal (Mehalpur) and killed Bhai Daljit Singh Jheeta in a fake encounter riddling his body with bullets. This was the day Bhai Daljit Singh became a Shaheed (Martyr). (October 1990)
His wife, Bibi Baljinder Kaur had recorded that the Shaheedi of Bhai Daljit Singh had taken place around four days after Diwali in 1990. The police did not hand over the body to the family. Instead, they claimed it was an unidentified and unrecognisable body and went ahead to cremate the body in an undisclosed location. Due to a traitor, the Sikh nation lost a gem. Later, his wife with the will of God had to lead a struggled life to raise her family.
During the Sikh freedom movement, Bhai Daljit Singh’s nephew, Shaheed Bhai Joginder Singh Jindu also attained Shaheedi (martyrdom) along with many other fellow Jhujaru Singhs he was close to. These selfless sacrifices and Shaheedi attained by these great warriors will surely one day colour with fruition and the Sikh nation will attain Khalistan. As a Sikh nation, we are forever indebted to and honour the Shaheeds like Shaheed Bhai Daljit Singh Jheeta and others.
Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Daljeet Singh Jheeta
