Shaheed Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani

Khalistan Commando Force

It is said that the land of Punjab, is the land of warriors, but when we look into the Sikh history, it comes to light that the land of Rajasthan also has its fair share of Sikh warriors. The people of Punjab and Rajasthan are hard workers, honest and full of self-respect. May it be the 18thcentury or the 20thcentury, Rajasthan has always made some of the great warriors that have played an important part in the Sikh Freedom Movement.

To stamp out Sikhi, the Hindu Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi ordered her army to attack Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984. The Indian tanks and cannons destroyed Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, the Indian army killed innocent Sikh pilgrims on the Parikarma of Sri Darbar Sahib. As well as attacking Sri Harimandir Sahib, the Indian security forces also attacked 37 other historical gurudwaras surrounding the Amritsar area. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, General Subeg Singh, Baba Thara Singh and thousands of Sikhs gave shahadat on the complex of Sri Harimandir Sahib. Then on 31stOctober 1984, Bhai Beant Singh and Bhai Satwant Singh killed Indira Gandhi and avenged the killing of innocent Sikhs. On 10thAugust 1986, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda killed the army general who commanded the army to attack Sri Darbar Sahib, General Arun Kumar Vadiya in Pune. Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha was also from Rajasthan, as well as Bhai Balwinder Singh Raju and Bhai Jagjit Singh Gill.

When we talk about the Generals Sikh Freedom Movement, who fought for the homeland of Sikhs, Khalistan then two Gurjant Singhs come up, one of Khalistan Liberation Force’s Jathedar Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala and another Khalistan Commando Force’s Jathedar Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani. If anyone wants to read up on the bravery of Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani the read the newspapers from 3rdSeptember 198, when Bhai Sahib broke out of police custody till 31stAugust 1991, when Bhai Sahib attained shaheedi. In this time there might be rare day that the daily Ajit newspaper may have not printed an article on Bhai Sahib’s brave actions.

Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani was born in the house of Sardar Gurdev Singh and from the womb of Mata Gurdev Kaur in the year of 1965 in 66RB near Rai Singh Nagar, district Ganga Nagar of Rajasthan state. Bhai Sahib was the eldest of his brothers and sisters. Bhai Sahib had 3 sisters Bibi Dishprinder Kaur, Bibi Kulwinder Kaur, Bibi Baljit Kaur and a younger brother, Bhai Harwinder Singh.

Bhai Sahib from childhood was kind hearted and always remained calm. Bhai Sahib and sister, Bibi Dishprinder Kaur use to go school together, Bhai Sahib use to told Bibi Dishprinder Kaur, “Sister, if you ever need anything then just tell me first. Don’t ask for anything from anyone in school, I will myself get you whatever you need.”

Sometime prior to this, Bhai Sahib’s chacha, Sardar Joginder Singh was murdered. Bhai Sahib was about 15 years old when some locals talked Bhai Sahib into avenging the killing of his chacha, Bhai Sahib got ready and went with the locals. Bhai Sahib was only 15 years old, when he killed Karanpur’s Gurdial Singh in 1979. When Bhai Sahib came home he told the family, “I have avenged the murder of my Chacha.” Then the family all told Bhai Sahib to present himself to the police. Bhai Sahib fearlessly went to the police station. The police then locked Bhai Sahib up in the Ganga Nagar jail. Bhai Sahib was bailed in 1981 and the family married Bhai Sahib to Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur, daughter if Sardar Mohan Singh from Rai Singh Nagar. In Ganga Nagar jail, Bhai Sahib came in contact with the Khadku Singhs of Sikh Freedom Movement. On 3rdSeptember 1986, when Bhai Sahib was being taken to the city of Bikanair for his hearing the Khadku Singhs attacked the police convoy and freed Bhai Sahib and Bhai Rajinder Singh Raji. In this action, some police officers lost their lives. From that day onwards Bhai Sahib joined the Sikh Freedom Movement and never looked back. Bhai Sahib was labelled wanted by the Rajasthan police.

Note: Bhai Sahib and Bhai Rajinder Singh Raji were freed by Bhai Jagjit Singh Gill and Bhai Kulwinder Singh Pola

After escaping from police custody, the first meeting Bhai Sahib had with the Rajasthani police was on 24thAugust 1987 near Rai Singh Nagar, in a historical gurudwara Budha Joharh Gurudwara. A lot of Sikh sangat had gathered at the Gurudwara, Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs were attending this event at the gurudwara. The police were also at this event looking for Bhai Sahib. The police recongnised Bhai Sahib and surrounded the whole event and asked Bhai Sahib to put his hands up. Bhai Sahib put his hands up and then the police used their wooden batons to disperse the sangat. As the police moved towards Bhai Sahib, the fellow singhs of Bhai Sahib who were mixed into the sangat fired bullets towards the police. In the firing three police officers were killed and many wounded. When the singhs fired at the police, the police officers started running for their lives. Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs were successful in escaping safely. Following is the article taken from Ajit newspaper of 24thAugust 1987:

In Budha Joharh (Rajasthan), Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani was surrounded, 2 police officers along with another 3 dead, Khadku Singh escaped

Jaipur – 24thAugust 1987, today in Rajasthan, Khadku Singhs carried out a big action in which 2 police officers along with another 3 men were killed and 2 more were wounded when the Khadku Singhs blindly fired bullets into the crowd. The action happened in district Ganga Nagar at the Sikh historical Gurudwara Budha Joharh. A police officer, Jagdish Singh hid and managed to escape. The names of the police officer that were killed are Hawaldar Dalip Singh, Constable Asu Singh and a truck driver, Mogan Singh. Khadku Singh were a group of 4 and fled the scene in a blue jeep. The police team were deployed as security at the religious event. At the time when this action happened, the police officers were drinking sweet water. The Khadku Singhs thought that the police was looking for them. The 4 Khadku Singh from which 2 were in turbans and another 2 were haircut, started blindly firing bullets at the police. Before firing the bullets, the Khadku Singhs shouted, “Anyone who harasses the Sikhs in Rajasthan, better take this as a warning and stop their harassment or else I will start harassing them.” The Khadku Singhs have also left a letter at the scene of action, in which the Rajasthan government is told not to harass the Sikhs of Rajasthan. The state minister said that the DIG and CID have been sent to the scene.

In 1987, Bhai Sahib came home and said that he is going to take his wife and son away with him, but rest of the family was against this decision said, “You yourself are wanted by the police, tell us why are you going to drag you family with you?” But Bhai Sahib did not listen to no one and took his wife and son with him. After this Bhai Sahib never came back home and nor did the family know where Bhai Sahib was living with his family.

By now Bhai Sahib had joined the top Khadku Singhs and started doing big actions. Bhai Sahib had earned the respect of Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Seetal Singh Matewal, Bhai Gurdev Singh Usmanwala and also of Baba Thakur Singh Ji Bhindranwale. After many documented actions of Bhai Sahib on the national newspapers, which proved the loyalty, bravery and honesty of Bhai Sahib, the Khadku Singhs gave the lead of Khalistan Commando Force Rajasthan to Bhai Sahib.

Bhai Sahib’s Khalistan Commando Force group had the like of sings such as Bhai Kulwant Singh Kala Arifke (Chhota Rajasthani), Bhai Subeg Singh Lubhania Wala, Bhai Mahinder Singh Lubhania Wali, Bhai Museebat Singh Verarh, Bhai Kabal Singh, Bhai Satpal Singh Ladian, Bhai Jarnail Singh Shatrana, Bhai Sukhmandar Singh Deep Singh Wala, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Ladoo and many more brave singhs.

To fulfil the need of weapons for Sikh Freedom Movement, Bhai Sahib, Bhai Subeg Singh Lubhania Wali and fellow singhs decided to loot a bank and started making a scheme. On 19thApril 1989, Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs entered the State Bank of India branch in the city of Sadul, district Ganga Nagar. Even aft being warned, the bank manager triggered the alarm and the singhs could only leave with 73000 rupees. As the mission was interrupted, the singhs came in anger and shot dead the bank manager. In this action, another 10 men were killed. As the singhs were about to leave the bank in a van, the Indian security forces had surrounded them. When the Indian did not allow the singhs to escape, the singhs then fired bullets towards the forces, killing 10 men instantly. The forces quickly moved out of the way and the singhs crossed the border into Punjab. Later Bhai Sahib took the responsibility for this bank robbery on newspapers via Khalistan Commando Force (Rajasthani), as follows:

Responsibility of bank robbery which took place in the city of Sadul, district Ganga Nagar (Rajasthan) taken by Khalistan Commando Force

28thApril 1989 – Ajit newspaper- Page 7 – Colum 1

27thApril – Batala – Khalistan Commando Force has taken the responsibility for the bank robbery in the Sadul city of Ganga Nagar (Rajasthan) and killing 15 people and wounding over 50 people. Spokesman of Khalistan Commando Force, Bhai Kirpal Singh sent the press note, which takes the full responsibility for the bank robbery and the killings. In this press note the Chief General of Khalistan Commando Force, Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani advises the people of Punjab that on 30thApril 1989, the people of Punjab must join the strike where all the roads of Punjab must remain clear, no cars or any other vehicles should be in the road on this day.

The list of actions done by singhs of Khalistan Commando Force under Bhai Sahib is very long and the list of shaheeds from Bhai Sahib’s group is also very long. Then on 1stSeptember 1991, the main headline on the Ajit Jalandhar newspaper is as follows:

Top Khadku Singh, Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani killed by police in Mohali. In Punjab another 23 men killed, including 8 Khadku Singhs.

Dharampal Upashak – 31stAugust 1991 – Chandigarh, On Saturday morning in Phase 7 of Mohali, the Punjab police house number 129 and as the top Khadku, Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani, Chief General of Khalistan Commando Force (Rajasthani) tried to escape, the police shot him dead. The government had put up a 20 lakh rupees reward for the capture of Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani and he was responsible for more than 1000 murders in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. In the house Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani was staying, belonged to Bibi Inderjit Kaur who was the PA of MP Bibi Bimal Kaur. Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani had come here on a blue gipsy jeep with his wife, Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur and son, Bhai Gurpinder Singh. When the police received this information the SSP Mohammed Mustafa and DSP Ajaib Singh with their teams surrounded the house. Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani fired bullets from back of the house as he tried to escape, the police also returned fire in the direction from where the police received fire, the police later found Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani dead. Before dying, Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani shouted slogans of, “Khalistan Zindabaad”, he also swore at the police and swallowed a capsule of Sy-Nyde. Bhai Gurjant Singh Instantly died.

 

Amar Shaheed Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala – Maninder Singh Baja