Shaheed Bhai Sukhwant Singh Billa

Khalistan Commando Force

 

Bhai Sukhwant Singh Billa was born in the year 1970, from the womb of Mata Rashpal Kaur and in the house of Sardar Swaran Singh in the village Mahna Mallian, Sursingh.  Bhai Sahib was the third eldest of 4 children, eldest brother Bhai Satnam Singh Satta, Bibi Balwinder Kaur, Bhai Sukhwant Singh Billa and youngest brother, Bhai Joginder Singh. Bhai Sahib’s family were a Gursikh family with farming and agriculture being their means of daily living and livelihood. Bhai Sahib studied up to 10th Grade at a state school in village Narli. He was a very astute student, as well as a very athletic and fit individual. During his studies, Bhai Sahib partook in the NCC.

 

In 1987, Bhai Sahib’s eldest brother, Bhai Satnam Singh Satta joined Khalistan Liberation Force under the command of Jathedar Avtar Singh Brahma. In that same year, Bhai Sahib had just finished his 10th grade when he received news that his brother was charged under a fabricated case of killing a Brahmin. The Punjab police spent much time instigating raids on the family homes in order to find Bhai Sahib’s brother. But since the Bhai Satta could not be found, the police decided to pin the murder case on Bhai Sahib instead. The police ordered his family that they present Bhai Sahib at the local police station. Bhai Sahib did just that. His family were by his side as they arrived at the police station in Bhikhiwind. Bhai Sahib was kept in jail from 3 to 4months and then he was released.

 

Around this time on 15th October 1987, his brother Bhai Satnam Singh Satta was betrayed by some untrustworthy individuals who lured him into the hands of the police and he was martyred in a false encounter. With the unfair imprisonment which Bhai Sahib had to endure and the loss of his dear brother, Bhai Sahib officially decided to go underground and join the Jhujaru groups. Creating a Sikh homeland, in which Sikhi and Sikhs would not face injustice, was the only mission on Bhai Sahib’s mind. Through Bhai Bhagwant Singh Mahna Mallian, Bhai Sahib joined Khalistan Commando Force, under the command of Bhai Harbhajan Singh Chatthu. Even though Bhai Sahib was of a young age, he quickly made a substantial place for himself within the Jhujaru groups. Bhai Sahib showed great bravery and responsibility when carrying out his service to Khalistan. Bhai Sahib was also made the area commander by the leadership of Khalistan Commando Force. His astuteness in carrying out the Jhujaru actions left the police shivering in their boots. The Punjab police resorted to putting a reward on his head. Bhai Sahib had also managed to make multiple trips to Pakistan, where he attained arms training.

 

On 14th August 1989, Bhai Sahib had stopped at a house in village, Nika Bhuchar. During his stay here, someone had notified the local police of his whereabouts. By early morning the next day between 6-7am, the area was surrounded by the Punjab police and CRPF. Bhai Sahib had a heavy machine-gun in his possession and so began to retaliate as he attempted to escape. Bhai Sahib managed to flee into the nearby fields. However, the Punjab police and CRPF heavily surrounded the fields and captured him. Bhai Sahib was taken to the Chabbal police station, where he was mercilessly tortured. He was continuously questioned on the whereabouts of the other Jhujaru Singhs from his group and any other classified information, but Bhai Sahib did not utter a word. On 18th August 1989, the Punjab police took Bhai Sahib to a local bridge named Dodhya, near Baba Buddha Sahib and made him a martyr of Khalistan in a staged encounter. Bhai Sahib’s body was not even handed over to the family. A short time after Bhai Sahib’s martyrdom, news of his Chacha, Bhai Bachittar Singh’s martyrdom also came to light, he had done Jhujaru actions with Khalistan Commando Force.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Sukhwant Singh Billa