Shaheed Bhai Sikandar Singh Khalsa

Khalistan Liberation Force

Four kilometres away from the Kotakpura city, on the left hand side of Sikhan Wala Road, situated in the hills is the hoe of Sardar Jagir Singh who is the father of 4 sons and 4 daughters. Sardar Jagir Singh called his youngest son by the nickname of Kharka from the start, even though his actual name was Bhai Sikandar Singh Khalsa.

Bhai Sahib was khadku minded person, not many people new Bhai Sahib’s real name as everyone called him Kharka. The locals only got to know Bhai Sahib’s real name when the officers from CIA Staff Faridkot raided Bhai Sahib’s house at midnight.

Bhai Sahib was an active member within the Kotakpura unit of the All India Sikh Student Federation. After the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984, Bhai Sahib and fellow singhs opened an All India Sikh Student Federation office at Gurudwara Chula Sahib. Due to his khadku mentality, the Punjab police noticed Bhai Sahib early on. When an action of Khadku Singhs happened in Bhai Sahib’s area, the Punjab police arrested him for interrogation. After many days of blind torture Bhai Sahib was charged with many fake cases and sent to Sangrur jail. Bhai Sahib was finally bailed after 3 years thanks to the family who tried everything to have the son released. Bhai Sahib was uneducated, but in jail he memorized a great deal Sikh prayers.

After being bailed from Sangrur Jail, Bhai Sahib started living a Gursikh life and always in high spirits. From Bhai Sahib’s house the closest gurudwara was 2 kilometres away. Bhai Sahib would wake up at Amritvela and after having a bath he would go to the gurudwara each day to do sewa. White Chola, orange Dastar and Simarna in his hand, Bhai Sahib surely looked like a lion and had a different identity.

Once Bhai Sahib settled at home, the Punjab police would come every 2nd 3rd day to harass Bhai Sahib and family. One day Bhai Sahib had enough and looked at his mother to say, “Mata, because of me you also face the harassment of the police. You should abandon me, maybe that way you can stay safe and the police would stop harassing you. Whatever happens to me, I’m not bothered.” Bhai Sahib’s mother answered, “Oi Kharkaya, how could you even think that? I will never say that until I’m alive. Rest is upon Guru Maharaj to decide.”

Bhai Sahib soon decided to leave home and family behind and join the Jhujaru Singhs on the battlefield fighting for Khalistan. Bhai Sahib started doing actions along with the singhs of Khalistan Liberation Force and under the command of Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala. Day by day Bhai Sahib was a growing threat for the Indian government, but at the same time the Punjab police were also getting more brutal in their mission to capture Bhai Sahib. The Punjab police were arresting family members and relatives of Bhai Sahib who were tortured at different police stations such as Kotakpura, Faridkot and Bagha Purana.

On 16th July 1990, Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala released a press note from Moga in the Ajit newspaper, he had warned the black cats of Bagha Purana who were known to be behind the shaheedi of Bhai Sahib. Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala made it clear that soon these black cats will be punished for their actions against the singhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. All 4 freedom fighting groups paid their respects to Shaheed Bhai Sikandar Singh Khalsa Kharka.

The family of Bhai Sahib only found out about Bhai Sahib’s shaheedi when they read this article of Jathedar Budhsinghwala in the paper. The whole area was saddened with the news of Bhai Sahib’s shaheedi. Bhai Sahib’s family along with the village panchayat went to Bagha Purana police station from where they only received a photo of Bhai Sahib’s shaheedi saroop. The photo showed Bhai Sahib’s body covered with blood and many bullet holes. The family confirmed that it was Bhai Sahib’s body and made the news of Bhai Sahib’s shaheedi official. Accepting reality the family bought the photos and the clothes drenched in blood of Bhai Sahib home.

When Bhai Sahib was released from Sangrur Jail, he along the locals did sewa of the Nishan Sahib at the gurudwara. It’s the Nishan Sahib that reminds the locals the Shaheed Bhai Sikandar Singh Khalsa gave shaheedi for the Sikh panth and now we must keep Bhai Sahib alive within our hearts and mind.

Khalsa Fatehnama – October 2006