Shaheed Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Pally

All India Sikh Student Federation

In the Sikh struggle started by the great 20th century Sikh General, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, many Sikh youths have fought for freedom with their lives. Amongst these young Sikhs is Shaheed Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Pally.

Bhai Mahinderpal Singh Pally was born on 26th January 1964, from the womb of Mata Mahinder Kaur in his mother village of Painsra, district Hoshiarpur. Bhai Sahib’s father was Sardar Ajit Singh and the whole family lived in Laksihan, district Hoshiarpur. From the start the whole family were attached to Sikhi. Sardar Ajit Singh had 5 children Bhai Balvir Singh, Bibi Jasvir Kaur, Bibi Rajinder Kaur, Bhai Mahinderpal Singh and Bhai Randhir Singh. Bhai Sahib received his primary education from a government school in Laksihan village and passed his 11th class in 1981-82 at high school in village Kot Fatuhi. Then straight after in 1982-83, Bhai Sahib took admission at the ITI College of Hoshiarpur. It was here while studying Bhai Sahib took Amrit from the Panj Pyare and also became an active member of All India Sikh Student Federation. While doing Sewa with All India Sikh Student Federation, Bhai Sahib came in contact with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, here Sant Ji saw the love Bhai Sahib’s family had for Sikhi.

In 1984-85, Bhai Sahib enrolled at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College of Mehalpur to start his first edition of BA. Bhai Sahib set up an All India Sikh Student Federation branch here and became the president, now Bhai Sahib was doing Sewa of the AISSF with honesty and determination. Looking at Bhai Sahib’s progress, the Punjab police started harassing him. This forces Bhai Sahib to leave this college and transferred to DAV College of Hoshiarpur, where he passed his BA first edition.

On 5th August 1984, Bhai Sahib was returning home after passing his BA, but the Punjab police under the command of DSP Cheema arrested Bhai Sahib and took him to police station of Mehalpur. Bhai Sahib was blindly tortured and after the police tried to charged him with the robbery that happened in the village of Rakhyal, district Hoshiarpur. The family of Bhai Sahib gained support of the locals and the Panchayats, and managed to have Bhai Sahib released after a week of blind torture.

On 12th September 1985, SI Mann of CIA Staff Hoshiarpur raided Bhai Sahib’s house and after not finding Bhai Sahib at home, the police then arrested his father, Sardar Ajit Singh. The following day again the police raised Bhai Sahib’s home and once after not finding Bhai Sahib at home, the police arrested his older brother, Bhai Balvir Singh. The family once again got the locals Panchayats and managed to release this father and son after 5 days.

Then on 5th October 1985, Bhai Sahib presented himself to SSP DR Bhatti of Hoshiarpur in front of MLA Jagdish Kaur, the local Panchayats. From there Bhai Sahib was sent to CIA Staff and until 23rd November 1985, Bhai Sahib was mercilessly tortured by DSP Bakshish Singh and Inspector Gurdev Singh. Then on 23rd November 1985, Bhai Sahib was handed back to the Panchayats. Due to the brutal torture of Punjab police, Bhai Sahib was wounded and his body was very weak, he was treated at hospital upon being released.

During these days, Bhai Sahib had left DAV College and enrolled once again at Khalsa College of Mehalpur to complete his second edition of BA, but the Punjab police continued to harass him. In the first 5-6 months of 1986, Bhai Sahib was jailed on many fake cases and he gave his exam for BA second edition in jail and passed with flying colours. Where Bhai Sahib was a great student, he was also a great footballer. In 1984-85, he played football at DAV College, that year DAV College were the runner-ups to Punjab University. So Bhai Sahib had enrolled at Khalsa College of Hoshiarpur to complete the second edition of his BA. Here in the year of 1986-87, Bhai Balvir Singh Raipur was the President of All India Sikh Student Federation (Hoshiarpur Branch) and Bhai Sahib the Vice-President. After the martyrdom of Bhai Balvir Singh Raipur, Bhai Sahib was made the district President. Bhai Sahib had only been the President for a few months, when on 26th September 1986 Comrade Darshan Canadian was assassinated in Mehalpur. The accusations pointed at Bhai Sahib as he was the President of an active group and the Punjab police had it in for Bhai Sahib from day one. On 27th September 1986 Punjab police raided Bhai Sahib’s house but Bhai Sahib had gone to Gardhiwal College to sign up new members of All India Sikh Student Federation. Due to Bhai Sahib not being at home, the police then arrested his father, Sardar Ajit Singh. At this time, other relatives of Bhai Sahib were also arrested and kept at police stations.

Then on 13th October 1986, Sardar Ajit Singh was moved to Garhshankar police station where he was kept till 31st October 1986. During this period, the police harassed and tortured Bhai Sahib’s father. Even Bhai Sahib’s mother, Mata Mahinder Kaur was harassed by ASP Sharma and Inspector Charanjit Singh. The families of Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta and Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli were also arrested and tortured in the same case, because in the year of 1986-87, Bhai Sahib had helped these Singhs get the lease of the canteen at Mehalpur College. Links were made by the police between these Singhs and the families of all 3 Singhs were arrested and tortured. Bhai Sahib, Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta and Bhai Satbachan Singh Sakruli were charged with the case of Comrade Darshan Canadian’s murder. The police said that these Singhs used the canteen to plan the killing of Comrade Darshan Canadian.

Bhai Sahib was of high character and a strict follower of Sikh code of conduct, no matter where he would be, he would always recite his Nitnem both times of the day. Love for Sikhi was filled in each drop of his blood. Bhai Sahib was only 8 months old in 1964, when his parents went to see Baba Isher Singh Nanaksar Wale and it was here that Baba Ji gave Bhai Sahib Chula of Amrit. For 14 months Bhai Sahib remained underground and continued to do sewa of the Sikh Panth by punishing anti-Sikh elements.

In the end on 2nd November 1987, Bhai Sahib along with Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta (Village Herian, Hoshiarpur), Bhai Satvir Singh Shinda (Village Aadampur, Jalandhar) and Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma (Village Bhirowal, Hoshiarpur) were drugged by an informant and captured by Indian security forces. After being arrested, all Jhujaru Singhs were blindly tortured, these horrific ordeal of torture was visible at the time of post-mortem. After interrogation, SSP Suresh Arora, ASP of Garhshankar and SHO Avtar Singh took the beaten and wounded Bhai Sahib and Bhai Satvir Singh Shinda to the outskirts of village Barian Kalan and after tying these Singhs to trees, the police shot them and made them martyrs. This happened at 3:45am on 3rd November 1987. The other two Singhs, Bhai Charanjit Singh Jeeta and Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma were made martyrs in same way but at a location in Garhshankar.

Khalsa Fatehnama – November 2013