Shaheed Bhai Heera Singh Waryam alias Bhai Angrej Singh Geja

Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan

To move forward the Sikh Freedom Movement, which was started by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Bhai Heera Singh Waryam dedicated his life to the struggle. Bhai Heera Singh Waryam was born in the year of 1966, in the house of Sardar Dharam Singh and from the womb of Mata Beer Kaur in the village of Kotli, near Rataul, district Tarn Taran. Bhai Sahib was the eldest of the 3 children. Bhai Sahib only completed his primary education, which was done at the government school in the village. At the age of 18-19 years, Bhai Sahib started working in Amritsar at a metal factory. It was in these days that Bhai Sahib heard the speeches of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale at Sri Manji Sahib. The words of Sant Ji imbedded themselves into Bhai Sahib’s heart.

When the Indian army attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984 and killed thousands of innocent Sikhs, Bhai Sahib was left in discomfort and wanting justice. Soon Bhai Sahib and friends took amrit from the Panj Pyare at Sri Akaal Takht Sahib. Bhai Sahib took inspiration from singhs who left their well-paid jobs, homes and families to fight against the oppression. In search of sewa, Bhai Sahib first joined the Babbar Khalsa freedom fighting group, after doing sewa with the Babbars, Bhai Sahib joined the Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan under the command of Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal.

In his Khadku life, Bhai Sahib always made the teeth of the enemy turn yellow and escaped unharmed from many encounters with the Indian security forces. Bhai Sahib lived up to the name ‘Singh’ (Lion) and fearlessly took on all enemies of the Sikh panth. When people talk about Bhai Sahib’s actions, the area names of Kotli, Rataul, Khadur Sahib and Baba Bakala were always mentioned as Bhai Sahib did most of his actions in these areas. Once an encounter took place not too far from Kotli village. This encounter lasted over two hours, when a close friend of Bhai Sahib, Bhai Surjit Singh Behla, who was resting in village nearby got this news, he and fellow singh quickly grabbed their assault rifles and made their way to the scene of the encounter and fired a storm of bullets towards the Indian security forces. All the singhs managed to escape from the encounter with small injuries.

Bhai Sahib’s personality was of a humble and loveable nature. When Bhai Sahib took over an area, the first thing he would do is punish the people who harassed the poor. For such reason Bhai Sahib was respected even more by the locals. Bhai Sahib made sure that only 11 members (immediate family) from the boy side would come to the girl’s village as a Bharaat. This was done so the girl side don’t get into debt by arranging unaffordable requirements of the Bharaat.

When Bhai Sahib’s mother asked him to get married, Bhai Sahib answered, “Mother, with the blessings of Guru Maharaj, I have become a Jhujaru Singh, My destination is victory or martyrdom, now only death is my bride.”

Throughout Bhai Sahib’s movement life, the Punjab police always harassed his family. The family was forced to leave their homes and farms, for three years no one touched the family farms. All this harassment was accepted by the family as the doing of Waheguru. Bhai Sahib’ family name was, Bhai Angrej Singh alias Geja, but due to Bhai Sahib’s brave and fearless actions, Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal named him, Bhai Heera Singh with love. After the shaheedi of a top Khadku Singh of Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan, Bhai Waryam Singh Burhenangal , the fellow singhs attached the name ‘Waryam’ to Bhai Sahib’s name and now the singhs knew Bhai Sahib was, Bhai Heera Singh Waryam.

Once, after escaping from an encounter, Bhai Sahib and few fellow singhs reached the village of Kotli at 11 o’clock at night and rested at a fellow singhs house. By the morning thousands of Indian security personnel had surrounded the village. Singhs planned to move away from the village and battle against the Indian security forces, to avoid damage to the local villagers. As one of the singh jumped over the wall to go into the farms, he mistakenly fired a shot towards the Indian security forces. Now the Indian security forces started to move towards the house that the singhs were in and firing bullets. The Indian forces used the local Sikh youth of the village as a shield. As soon as the singhs got the chance to come out in the farms, they did and then the singhs battled against the Indian forces to make their teeth crunch. The battlefield was full of smoke and sparks from the firing bullets. The singhs kept on changing positions and finishing the CRPF officers with the war cries of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal” and “Khalistan Zindabaad.” All singhs attained shaheedi on the battlefield fighting the oppressors. The Indian army, Punjab police, BSF and CRPF also had lost many of the officers. The body of the 4 singhs were not given to the family and instead secretly cremated by the Punjab police in Tarn Taran.

Singhs, who become martyrs, become the light of guidance for the future generations. The locals held 4 Sri Akhand Paath Sahibs in memory of the four shaheeds of this great battle of Khalistan and the following year the family of the singhs hold Sri Akhand Paath Sahibs till today.

Shamsheer -E-Dast – Feb March 2008