Shaheed Bhai Kulwinder Singh Deol alias Pappu Bhambhar

Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan

 

The fearless Jhujaru warrior of the Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan, the immortal martyr, Shaheed Bhai Kulwinder Singh Deol alias Pappu Bhambhar was born on March 21st 1968 to father, Jathedar Sardar Jassa Singh and to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Gurbachan Kaur in the village of Valtoha, Tehsil Patti, District Amritsar, Tarn Taran. Bhai Kulwinder Singh was one of six children. He had 4 brothers and 1 sister. The family earned a living from agriculture, farming their own land and selling crops. The entire family was a very devoted and religious Sikh family. Bhai Kulwinder Singh studied up to 10th grade at his local village school. He then went on to study his BA at the Guru Nanak College in Patti. Bhai Kulwinder Singh was a very academic and an intelligent individual. As well having an endearing personality, he was also known to be a very smart handsome tall, well-built young Singh.

 

At the time of the attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib in June 1984 by the Indian government, Bhai Kulwinder Singh was only 16 years of age. After hearing of the Shaheedi (martyrdom) of Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale and his fellow Jhujaru Singhs along with the masses of Sikh congregation there at the time killed in the attack; Bhai Kulwinder Singh was deeply saddened and pained. The armed struggle began and the Jhujaru warriors rose to fight against this oppression and ensure justice was served by eliminating the anti-Sikh elements one by one. Bhai Kulwinder Singh also decided to join the Khalistan Commando Force whilst studying for his BA, after coming into contact with their General Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar. Bhai Kulwinder Singh kept his participation a secret so he could continue his studies alongside. However, the Punjab police soon got wind of him supporting the Khalistan Commando Force and multiple raids began of his family home. In 1990, He was forced to leave his home for good to avoid his family continuously being harassed.

 

Bhai Kulwinder Singh went on to join the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan Jhujaru group led under the command of General Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. Baba Manochahal had created a core group which included Lieutenant General Bhai Surjeet Singh alias Seetal Jhakhar, Bhai Bagicha Singh Khalsa. Bhai Kulwinder Singh was appointed the area commander. Bhai Kulwinder Singh and his team were known to have acquired some of the best firearms and weaponry. Many times, he himself had travelled across the border into Pakistan to obtain many different types of firearms. Bhai Kulwinder Singh was a complete patriot of Khalistan and dedicated to the mission of self-determination and the fight for the Sikh homeland, Khalistan. He was ready to undertake anything for the cause.

 

Under the command of Bhai Surjeet Singh Jhakhar, from all the major actions executed Bhai Kulwinder Singh held a frontal role and was instrumental in hunting down each and every enemy of the Sikhs. In his own locality and area, Bhai Kulwinder Singh served his people and made sure they did not come to any harm. He made sure no innocents were killed, all female mothers and sisters were protected, all dowry rituals were put to a stop and no drugs were allowed to be sold. The moral calibre had changed so much so that each and every day Gurbani could be heard being recited in every house hold. When Bhai Kulwinder Singh would walk through his villages adorned with all his weaponry and firearms alongside his fellow Jhujaru brothers, the local people would feel privileged and blessed to have caught his presence. Many homes would leave their doors open to allow for the Jhujaru Singhs to visit for food and rest.

 

An extraordinary encounter was narrated by his fellow Jhujaru brother, Bhai Sarabjit Singh Hero. On one occasion the Jhujaru Singhs were sieged in Mallanwala, Ferozepur by the Punjab police and CRPF. Bhai Kulwinder Singh demonstrated such tact and bravery during this encounter that it shook the Indian army in their boots. Bhai Kulwinder Singh sent many Indian soldiers to hell on a one-way ticket. This battle was such a huge scale confrontation that the chief of Punjab police himself, KPS Gill arrived in a bulletproof tractor to lead. Against thousands of army men, the brave god-protected 5 Jhujaru Singhs fought continuously battling for 8 hours and were able to keep the army far away and not allow any them closer. During this battle, Bhai Surjeet Singh Seetal Jhakhar, to everyone’s surprise used a rocket launcher, which caused the Indian army heavy casualties and damage. Bhai Kulwinder Singh made many attempts to target the butcher KPS Gill, but the bullet proof tractor kept him protected and the Jhujaru Singhs were unable to get to him. Bhai Kulwinder Singh along with his Jhujaru brothers (Bhai Surjeet Singh Seetal Jhakhar, Bhai Bagicha Singh Khalsa, Bhai Shinder Singh Raja, Bhai Sarabjit Singh Hero and others) managed to lead the Jhujaru group out of danger and out of the web of army personnel with ease. The police were stunned in silence and remained rubbing their hands in confusion.

 

Bhai Kulwinder Singh took the Singhs to the next stoppage place a village which was close to a CRPF checkpoint. The Jhujaru Singhs began to check and clean up their weaponry and firearms. In doing so, the rocket launcher accidently got triggered and blew the roof off! The sound rippled across the villages and in moments the police and CRPF had surrounded their house. The Jhujaru Singhs managed to flee but the police followed their back. It was a detrimental night for them, the Jhujaru Singhs had no choice but to jump into the Harike River. One Jhujaru Singh was swept away whilst the others nearly drowned but survived. The Jhujaru Singhs struggled to escape the rain of firing bullets towards them. All but one managed to cross the river and reach the other side to safety.

 

Bhai Kulwinder Singh attempted many times to eliminate the notorious police tout Ajeet Phoola (a fake Nihang) and his mistress Americo but failed. Families of many Shaheeds from the local villages openly praised Bhai Kulwinder Singh for having been the one to avenge the killing of their loved ones. He was the one that locals spoke of and looked upon as their saviour and bodyguard. The villagers would sing songs of praises in his honour.

 

Bhai Kulwinder Singh would come to pay his mother a visit every two to three months. He would say to his mother to not worry about him not settling down and getting married. He would claim, ”O dear Mother, I have now married the noose of death, just as the four beloved sons of our tenth master Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj had done.” Bhai Kulwinder Singh would often tell his brother Bhai Sukhwinder Singh that when the family receives news of his Shaheedi (martyrdom) to not mourn or cry, but rather raise slogans in praise of the almighty as loud as you can – ‘Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal’ and thank the almighty that he bestowed this gift of Shaheedi on our brother, Bhai Kulwinder Singh.

 

Bhai Kulwinder Singh made it his life mission and would always say, “Until my last breath I will not sleep, nor will I let the heinous perpetrators sleep whom thought it easy to destroy the holiest Sri Harmandir Sahib and destroy our Sri Akaal takht Sahib. They who desecrated the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, put burning tyres around the necks of our brothers, raped our mothers and sisters, not sparing even the babies. These perpetrators will need to pay for what they did. Khalsa will continue to keep fighting against this oppression and torture of weak and innocent. Then the day will come when this land of Gurus, Brave warriors and Jhujaru Shaheeds will flourish and raise the flag of Khalistan will be raised and fly high in fruition and honour of those who fought until their very last breath. Whether we live or die it matters not, because our future generations to come will be able to bask in the warmth of this freedom in their own homeland. This will be the home of truth where justice will prevail and every citizen will leave in peace, religious equality will prevail and the spilt blood of our Shaheeds will bring colour and fruition for this cause.”

 

Jathedar Bhai Surjit Singh Seetal Jhakhar held Bhai Kulwinder Singh in high regard and saw him as his righthand man. Bhai Kulwinder Singh’s brother (Bhai Sukhwinder Singh) and mother, Mata Gurbachan Kaur served selflessly to the cause allowing the Jhujaru Singhs to come to their home for respite and serve them hot meals. They too should be remembered and honoured by the Sikh Panth. During these days the police harassed the family constantly. To the point where the family were forced out of their home and flee elsewhere. Even their hard-earned land was destroyed by the police. The Punjab police took over the house and turned it into a police checkpoint. The torture and harassment was beyond measure, Bhai Kulwinder Singh’s father would be forcibly taken to the police station along with mother, Mata Gurbachan Kaur who would be kept there 3 days at a time. Bhai Kulwinder Singh’s brothers were tortured by the notorious officer Suba Sarhand. They did not spare the Sarpanch (Head of the Village) also. All this ill treatment did not make Bhai Kulwinder Singh waver in his dedication to the cause. Both him and his family remained steadfast. The Punjab police had already put a bounty on his head of 5 Lakh Rupees. The police were on a rampage looking for him, but to his honour he ruled with love over so many hearts, that not one person leaked an ounce of information on him.

 

In the end there came a day, when a fellow Jhujaru Singh who the group was already suspicious of, became the epitome of betrayal. This traitor by the name of Jella, was already linked with the police and touted the whereabouts of Bhai Kulwinder Singh, by asking him to attend a village named Rattoke on the pretence of some important business. Here, the police were waiting and immediately arrested him. It is notable to say that Bhai Kulwinder Singh was unarmed and alone. Upon this sudden commotion, Bhai Kulwinder Singh immediately took a cyanide capsule, but to his misfortune, it did not affect his body and so he remained alive. He was brought to Valtoha police station and was mercilessly tortured to every inch of his body which cannot even be verbalised or put into words. The heinous officer Suba Sarhand broke every bone in every limb of his body. The spiritual brave warrior, Bhai Kulwinder Singh repeatedly chanted, “Satnam Waheguru” (God’s name) throughout this ordeal.

 

At the time Bhai Kulwinder Singh was caught by the police, the informant had also touted on Bhai Ranjit Singh Kraka who was picked up from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Gurdwara Dal Panth Baba Bidhi Chand. It is to note that Bhai Sarabjit Singh Hero was also caught up in this siege and managed to escape with great difficulty. Both Singhs had to endure up to five days of constant torture, but neither spilled an ounce of information on any of the other Jhujaru Singhs nor information related to the whereabouts of firearms and weapons.

 

On 27th May 1992, the police took them both along three other Jhujaru Singhs to an area called Bhag Wala Shanna (Wara Teliya) and were killed in a fake encounter, with all Jhujaru Singhs attaining Shaheedi (martyrdom). As soon news got out of their Shaheedi, there was a wave of mourning and uprise throughout the area of Valtoha, Patti and wider district. At the hospital of Patti, the post-mortems were hurriedly conducted followed by their cremation without informing their family members. The families got to know of this and made commotion at the hospital be given the remains and ashes of their beloved family member. Finally, the hospital stopped resisting and handed over the ashes to their respective families. The families, along with masses of sangat took the ashes and completed the final rites at Sri Goindwal Sahib.

 

On 5th June 1992, a Sri Akhand Paath Sahib was held in the memory of the five Shaheed Jhujaru Singhs. An advert on the remembrance event was circulated through all newspapers at the time, by leaders General Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and Bhai Bagicha Singh Khalsa of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan. It was also stated attendance from Head of Damdami Taksal, Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Jathedar Baba Avtar Singh Sarhali Sahib Wale and Baba Charan Singh Ji Bir Sahib Wale.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Kulwinder Singh Deol