Shaheed Bhai Guljar Singh alias Baba Mehtab Singh

Khalistan Liberation Force

In the Sikh Freedom Movement started by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, the martyrdom of Bhai Guljar Singh shines like the stars at night. Bhai Guljar Singh alias Baba Mehtab Singh was born on 20th January 1965 in the village of Iban Kalan, district Amritsar, in the house of Sardar Balwant Singh and from the womb of Mata Ajit Kaur. Bhai Sahib studied at a local school up till 8th class and then took admission into Khalsa College Senior Secondary School in Amritsar to study up till 10th class. Bhai Sahib took great interest in sports, especially athletics. By now Bhai Sahib had received the blessings of Amrit from the Panj Pyare and had been living a life of a Gursikh never missing his Nitnem. In 1984, after the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib, Bhai Sahib was married to Bibi Jagdish Kaur. Bhai Sahib also worked at Delhi Corporation for 4 years, during this time the movement against the Narakhdharis was going strong under the command of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale. It was during these days, Bhai Sahib had started listening to the speeches of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale and at times staying with the Jhujaru Singhs at Sri Darbar Sahib. At times the Jhujaru Singhs from the Jatha would also stay at Bhai Sahib’s house. Sant Ji was happy with the selfless service Bhai Sahib was doing and had named him Baba Mehtab Singh. Once Bhai Sahib disguised himself as an army soldier and bought a truck full of weapons from Ludhiana to Amritsar. This action of Bhai Sahib had bought even closer to Sant Ji. Whenever Mata Ajit Kaur met Sant Ji and asked about her son, Sant Ji would say, “Mata your son is a warrior, don’t worry about him.” After finishing his duties in Delhi, Bhai Sahib started staying with Sant Ji at Sri Darbar Sahib. Bhai Sahib and Bhai Surinder Singh Sodhi were very trustable Singhs of Sant Ji. Bhai Sahib along with Bhai Surinder Singh Sodhi had taken revenge for the martyrdom of Bhai Kulwant Singh Nagoke by killing 2 police officers responsible and also punished many more anti-Sikh elements that committed injustices upon Sikhs.

In June 1984, the Indian army attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib, Bhai Sahib wanted to join his Jhujaru brothers in fighting back the Indian army but due to an army curfew all over Punjab, Bhai Sahib was unable to reach Sri Darbar Sahib. After the 1984 Sikh genocide, Bhai Sahib was counted amongst the first layer of Jhujaru Singhs who started the armed struggle for Khalistan. Bhai Sahib first did actions with Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan under the command of Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. Bhai Sahib came in contact with Jathedar Avtar Singh Brahma and from here joined Khalistan Liberation Force. Bhai Sahib was very close to Bhai Kuldeep Singh Muchal as they had stayed together from the time of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale. To achieve a house for the Sikh panth, Bhai Sahib left his own home and went to Pakistan for training on up-to-date weapons and also transport weapons into Punjab. These new weapons would help Jhujaru Singhs progress in the struggle for freedom.

Upon returning to Punjab, Bhai Sahib went to see his family but unfortunately an informant gave this information to the police. In short time of space, under the command of DSP of Sadar the Punjab police surrounded Bhai Sahib’s family house. Bhai Sahib was unarmed and was arrested. At the police station Bhai Sahib was brutally tortured for confession and information. Bhai Sahib’s feet had turned black due to uncountable electric shocks, only when Bhai Sahib would fall unconscious would the torture stop. The family tried to see Bhai Sahib many times but the police did not allow this meeting to happen. After 2 months of blind torture, Bhai Sahib was charged with many cases and sent to Gumtala jail of Amritsar. The police of Ram Bagh also took Bhai Sahib in their custody, but even here after immense torture Bhai Sahib did not give any information on Khalistan Liberation Force.

When Bhai Sahib was sent back to jail, the family were given only one meeting with him due to them running around and bribing many police officers. The family saw Bhai Sahib in a very weak and beaten condition, he was unable to walk, and Bhai Sahib had fellow inmates holding Bhai Sahib up. This was the last time Bhai Sahib met his family. The next and the last time the family saw Bhai Sahib was when Mata Ajit Kaur was shown the photo of Bhai Sahib’s body after his shaheedi for identification. Mata Ajit Kaur kissed the photo of Bhai Sahib’s shaheedi saroop and then put it close to her heart. Bhai Sahib was released but did not return home as he knew that the police would come and arrest him again. Upon being released, Bhai Sahib straight away jumped into the battlefield.

Bhai Sahib did not tolerate looting and thefts. Bhai Sahib did not speak much but when he did, he spoke to everyone with respect. Bhai Sahib ate from poor households and also in return he helped the families as much as he could. Bhai Sahib had supported many poor families in getting their daughters married. Once Bhai Sahib and fellow Jhujaru Singhs were relaxing in a forest near Nawashaher, when they saw a Bazigar with his 2 young daughters collecting wood for fire, Bhai Sahib asked the Bazigar why he’s got his daughters with him, the Bazigar replied, “My 2 daughters will be getting married in a few days and we haven’t even got wood for the stove.” Bhai Sahib hugged the elderly Bazigar and said, “These are my sisters now, here is 10,000 Rupees for their wedding and I will arrange for milk and other groceries to be sent to your house for the wedding. Now drop your stress and go home.” Bhai Sahib remained true to his words and helping this family with the marriage of their daughters.

On 1st May 1988, Bhai Sahib was resting at house in the village of Muthianwali, district Ferozpur. The owner of the house gave Bhai Sahib sleeping tablets mixed in hot milk. As soon as Bhai Sahib started feeling sleepy, the owner unarmed Bhai Sahib of his weapons and informed the police to claim the cash reward which had been put on Bhai Sahib’s head. Bhai Sahib realised he had been tricked and pulled his revolver out from his waist belt. The house was now fully surrounded by Punjab police and even being drugged, Bhai Sahib fought bravely. Bhai Sahib was shot in the leg and then he tried to escape on his horse but the owner had tied the horse with chains. No route of escape, Bhai Sahib fought the enemy and in the end attained martyrdom.  The police were given 2 AK47s, 4 full magazines, 600 bullets and 1 revolver, which belonged to Bhai Sahib by the owner of the house, and this was placed near the body of Bhai Sahib. The family held Sri Akhand Paath Sahib and preformed the last Ardas of Bhai Sahib on 10th May 1988 in Iban Kalan, Amritsar.

6 months after the martyrdom of Bhai Sahib, his father Sardar Balwant Singh was arrested along with his younger brother, Bhai Mukhtyar Singh by the Punjab police. The family was accused of harbouring Jhujaru Singhs at their house. After this the family members and relatives of Bhai Sahib were regularly arrested and tortured. Due to the blind torture of Bhai Mukhtyar Singh, his mental health was getting worse. Not wanting to have more blood on their hands, the Punjab police released Bhai Mukhtyar Singh and father, Sardar Balwant Singh before their health got more serious in police custody. But the damage had been done, upon being released Bhai Mukhtyar Singh had started talking to himself and even after the family sent him for treatment at a mental hospital , he did not get cured. Bhai Mukhtyar Singh had passed away due to his mental health which was a direct result of the Punjab police torture, and shortly afterwards Sardar Balwant Singh also passed away. Today Mata Ajit Kaur and Bibi Jagdish Kaur the wife of Bhai Sahib live together in their family home.

Sant Sipahi – February 1992

Shamsheer-E-Dast – Aug-Sept 2008