Jathedar Jee's Capture and Shahidi

Punjab had by now become a state with Police , black cats, army positioned in every corner, road, village, etc. It was becoming very difficult for Singhs to move from place to place.

Bhai Sahib was actually arrested a few days before he was declared Shaheed. The police had traced him to his house in Patiala. When he was arrested, Bhai Sahib said, "The Sukhdev Singh you are looking for has left, all that is left now is this body. You may do with it as you please."

He was tortured severely, but never revealed a word about his fellow Singhs, who after his Shaheedi took 6 months before they could regroup again in Pakistan.

KP Gill Makes the Announcement

In the end, on 9th August 1992, it was announced that Bhai Sahib was shaheed in a police encounter. Incidently Bhai sahib`s birthday and Shaheedi day were on the same date. On the 10th August newspaper front pages were headlines that Babbar Khalsa Chief has been killed. The notorious KPS Gill made a statement, “The leader of Babbar Khalsa, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar has been killed near Ludhiana in a Police encounter. Babbar was responsible for the murder of Nirankari Gurbachan and a 1000 others.”

While using his fingers to twist his moustache, on national TV, KPS Gill, further stated that now “Gurbachan Singh Manochal, Parmjit Singh Panjwar and Wassan Singh Zaffarwal should now surrender, otherwise they would meet the same fate as Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Khalistan Liberation Force Leader Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala.” (who was Shaheed just months earlier). He further stated “Sukhdev Singh Babbar not only supplied Babbar Khalsa with weapons, but all the other groups aswell. He was responsible for firstly, the liquidation of most of the Nirankari leadership, the Nirankari Baba Gurbachan, Niranjan Singh I.S.S in Chandigarh. Further major operations in Punjab, Delhi and Haryana, and was an expert in precise bombs explosions to kill targets. He also killed Agriculture Minister D.S. Tyagi, Ex-Cabinet Minister Joginderpal Painde in Ludhiana at Bhai Bala Chowk, Manjit Singh SHO, and many other dignatories & politicians.

A more accurate list of Bhai Sahib missions can be researched from “Vangaar” magazine copies. Many notorious names such as Radhe Shaam (Congress Leader), Khishi Raam Sharma (BJP Leader), and murderous police officers - Hargeet Singh S.H.O, Ghabar Singh S.H.O. of Ludhiana can be added to the list.

The Babbar Khalsa unit of Bhai Anokh Singh was sent to Delhi after the riots of 1984, under a plan drawn by Jathedar ji. They were credited with assassinations and explosions which killed many leading Congress politicians and planners of the riots.

Baba Manochahal on Jathedar Jee

Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochal released a tape praising the character of Bhai Sahib. Politically their views differed. Bhai Sahib was in favour of boycotting elections, while Baba Manochal was in favour of standing in them. Bhai Sahib saw this as accepting Indian supremacy and against the 1986 Declaration of Khalistan. However despite this difference the Pyaar between the two Great Generals was clear to see.
When Police raided his Bhai Sahib house, where he had lived in disguise, they found numerous. There books which detailed the Russian and French Revolutions. Other books on American Independence and its constitution, and books on English History and the workings of its Parliament. This showed how far Bhai sahib has studied into how nations are built and structured.

Days After Shahidi

The day after Bhai Sahib's shaheedi was announced, his body was taken to Ludhiana Civil Hospital under tight army security. A post mortem was done, then quickly the body was taken to a commemoration ground and cremated. The authorities knew the popularity of Bhai Sahib in Punjab, and wanted to make sure no huge funeral could take place.

Worldwide numerous Akhand Paths & Rainsbhais were held in Bhai Sahib's memory. The genocidal Chief Minister Beant Singh put a state wide curfew on the 20th August to ensure no Akhand Path bhogs are held. This curfew was enforced with a “shoot to kill” policy on anyone seen walking the streets.

A day before, in the village Dhassuwal, Amritsar, an akhand path bhog was held for the longest serving leader of the Khalistan Movement. Realising the impact on this, roadblocks were set on a 35km radius. All the villages within the radius were evacuated. Anyone trying to get to the bhog ceremony was arrested or shot on sight. Thousands of Police and Army personnel were sent to the area to enforce this.
So the 37 year old leader of the Sikh Freedom Movement, who was six foot tall, with a good build, hawkish eyes, brave warrior, and creator of the Babbar Khalsa had no Shaheedi smagam in his home village, but all of the world it was commemorated.
In his house, surrounded by Police, 5 young Singhs, his father, Bapu Jind Singh, his wife Bibi Sukhwant Kaur, Bibi Gurmeet kaur - his sister-in-law and wife of Bhai Mehal Singh, brothers Rushal Singh and Angrej Singh, and sisters Swaran kaur, Charan kaur, Jeet kaur, and cousins Harbans Singh, Daljeet Singh and Sukha Singh were allowed to stand in ardas at the Akhand Path Bhog. They were all surrounded by Police.

Outside the Police had arrested and taken to prison everyone who tried to attend or was already present at the bhog. This included over 100 men, over 200 bibian, Bhai Sahib`s relatives, his children:- Tejinder Singh (13 years old), Gurvinder Singh (9 years old) and Amrit kaur (11 years old). Bhai sahib nephews:- Balraj Singh (19 years old) and Pargat Singh (17 years old), and other relatives Baghel Singh, Rashpal Singh, Baljit Singh, Baldev Singh, Dalbir Singh were also arrested and put in cells. Eve those Gursikhs making langar were not spared police arrest.

Character Assassination

The Indian Security Services and especially RAW (Research and analysis Wing) knew the Babbar Khalsa group were a puritan group whos fight was based on high ideals. Jathedar Sukhdev Singh was an iconic figure in Punjab and the backbone of the movement. They knew they had to discredit him to make sure no new Sukhdev Singh should rise from his ashes. This policy had already been used effectively on Deepa Heeran wale who was hugely popular in his area.

So a detailed propaganda campaign was launched by the security forces, and spread via the press, and even via other agents amongst the Sikh leadership. In hindsight now it is easy to see who is who. In them days it was more difficult. Just compare the sacrifices of Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar, Anokh Singh Babbar, Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Avtar Singh Brahma, and Gurbachan Singh Manochal, with those who spoke against them such as Badal, Wassan Zaffarwal, Dr Jagjit Chohan and other Panthik traitors.

Jathedar Sukhdev Singh was attacked on two points which is important to be cleared, as the propaganda was done over a number of years to the Sikh masses and some many still question Bhai Sahib.

Firstly, comments were made on his lifestyle mainly due to the house in which he lived. The house was very large and well decorated. We have to understand for Bhai Sahib to live for 14 years and take guerrilla warfare to the level that he did, plus also co-ordinate efforts world wide, he could not have done this living in a field, a ditch, or a shack. The house and lifestyle were part of his disguise as the rich building contractor, which gave him access to numerous telephone lines, faxes, and powerful contacts. This was essential to run a parallel government like he between 1986 -1989.

Secondly propaganda was spread that he remarried and had children. This is also not true. Bhai Sahib was only married once to Bibi Sukhwant kaur in 1978, and he had children with her. To maintain his disguise, he could not have his actual wife living with him. She was constantly under surveillance, and it would expose his disguise straight away. As part of the disguise, it was made to look like he had a family. This was with a Bibi Parcharak who was sympathetic to the cause, and a child was adopted from a Shaheed Parivaar.
Bhai Sahib was a Gursikh of high calibre, with amazing qualities and a Jeevan full of Seva , Simran and Sacrifice……Today the Panth desperately needs more like him…

Movement Slows Down

This period between mid 1992 to 1993 saw the capture of many of the Leadership of the movement. Within months, Bhai Rashpal Singh Chandra, Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochal were Shaheed. Other key figures shifted operations to Pakistan and other countries. Later Wassan Zaffarwal, Dr Sohan Singh and Dr Jagjit Chohan showed their true colours.
In the run up to the next election, Congress Chief Minister Beant Singh made a statement that he was higher the Sahib Siri Guru Gobind Singh, because he has killed all his Singhs. By now a new generation had joined this path. Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara had set up a unit, which decided to show Congress leader Beanta that Singhs had not been finished yet. A young Singh called Bhai Dilawar Singh Babbar sacrificed himself to assassinate Beant Singh and many of his aides. KPS Gill still walks free today…….