After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, thousands of Sikhs were killed in a state-sponsored pogrom across India. The violence was not confined to Delhi but also spread to other major cities and regions, including Kanpur, Bokaro, Chas Tehsil, Patna, Calcutta, Bombay, and various Hindi-speaking states. Following this carnage, Sikh youths retaliated by assassinating some of the key perpetrators of the pogrom within a short period.
At that time, after Delhi, the cities that witnessed the highest number of Sikh killings were Kanpur and Bokaro. Within less than four years of the pogrom, Sikh Kharku Singh assassinated Kanpur MLA Vilayati Ram Katyal, who was identified as the primary perpetrator of the Kanpur Sikh pogrom.
Kanpur Sikh Pogrom
In 1984, Kanpur had an estimated population of almost 30 lakh, of which about 1.5 lakh were Sikhs. The city had a significant Punjabi community, consisting of both Sikhs and Hindus, who had settled there after migrating from West Punjab (now Pakistan) during the partition of 1947. Sikhs were well-established in their businesses, primarily dealing in auto parts, industrial goods, and services.
According to Justice Ranganath Misra’s report in August 1986, it was clearly stated that In Kanpur, 127 Sikhs were officially reported killed in the state-sponsored pogrom, orchestrated by local politicians and their goons. These deaths occurred between the night of October 31 and November 5, 1984. The violence first erupted on the outskirts of Kanpur, with horrifying incidents reported, such as 11 members of one family killed in one attack and 13 in another. However, the actual number of deaths far exceeded the commission’s report. Many Sikhs were also killed on trains and at railway stations in and around Kanpur, similar to the incidents in Delhi. These deaths often went uncounted due to the difficulty in tracing their identities.
Justice Misra’s commission noted that the first incident of Sikh killings in Kanpur occurred at 2:30 PM on October 31, 1984, approximately five hours after Indira Gandhi’s assassination at 9:30 AM that day. The homes and commercial premises of Sikhs were first looted and then burned. The crimes followed a similar pattern to the mob violence witnessed in Delhi. The Misra Commission also emphasized that the same individuals who organized the violence in Delhi appeared to have played a role in the Kanpur pogrom as well.
On the morning of November 1, 1984, Indian National Congress (INC) leaders held meetings in Kanpur and surrounding areas such as Bokaro and Chas Tehsil. During these meetings, emotional speeches were delivered, urging people to take revenge on Sikhs for the assassination of their “Maa” (mother). Sikhs were declared “Desh ke Gaddar” (traitors of the nation), and slogans like “Khoon ka badla khoon se” (“Blood for blood”) were raised.
Hundreds of vehicles were burned, and Sikh employees returning from government offices or industrial units after their shifts were assaulted and brutally beaten. On the night of November 1, apart from the targeted looting and burning of Sikh houses, Gurudwaras were also set on fire. Violent physical assaults of grave nature began. The composition of the mobs and their methods of attack were strikingly similar to those observed in Delhi during the pogrom.
Kanpur, one of the largest cities in Uttar Pradesh, was highly industrialized. Most of the city’s population consisted of laborers, while the Sikh population was largely affluent, owning well-established businesses in auto parts, industrial services, retail shops, the clothing industry, and more. Some Sikh-owned establishments, such as Kwality Store, Chhabra Electronics, and Arora General Store, were iconic landmarks in the city. All of these were looted and burned during the pogrom.
The financial and class disparity between Sikhs and the majority population in Kanpur contributed to tensions. Sikhs were resourceful and prosperous, as demonstrated by the case of Iqbal Singh, who was only 18 years old during the pogrom. His home and shop were looted and burned. Among the stolen items were a washing machine and a refrigerator—luxury appliances uncommon in 1984. The rioters, unfamiliar with their use, reportedly stored cattle fodder in the washing machine and old clothes in the refrigerator.
Initial violence in Kanpur began with small groups of 40 to 50 individuals pressuring Sikh shop owners and office keepers to shut down their establishments. The worst-affected areas in Kanpur, where Sikhs lived in high numbers, included Govind Nagar, Kidwai Nagar, Gumti No. 5, Ratanlal Nagar, Ranjit Nagar, Pandu Nagar, P-Road, Rajinder Nagar, and Daboli. These neighborhoods bore the brunt of the violence and destruction.
Vilayati Ram Katyal
Vilayati Ram Katyal, 58 years old in 1988, was a resident of 37/14, Block 4, Govind Nagar, Kanpur. Katyal had a Punjabi background, born on July 29, 1935, in Gujranwala, West Punjab (now in Pakistan). Like many other Sikhs and Hindus who migrated to Kanpur during the Partition of 1947, he settled in the city with his family. Katyal was a staunch member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and served as an MLA from Kanpur’s Govind Nagar constituency from 1980 to 1988. He was also known for his Hindutva hardliner ideology.
Following Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Vilayati Ram Katyal held assemblies in Kanpur, where he incited violence against Sikhs. He organized his party workers and local criminals, instructing them to loot Sikh properties and commit killings. Under his command, large mobs of 2,000–2,500 individuals targeted Sikh colonies, looting homes and shops, burning Gurudwaras, and killing Sikhs. Katyal had a reputation as a mafia figure in Kanpur, notorious for his involvement in land grabbing. According to the Mishra Commission report, 127 Sikhs killed during the Kanpur pogrom were officially recorded, with Katyal identified as a key perpetrator.
Even after the 1984 Sikh pogrom, Katyal continued to harass and threaten the Sikh community in Kanpur. He sought to take over Sikh-owned homes and businesses, often forcing owners to sell their properties at extremely low prices. Katyal actively fomented tension in the city, delivering inflammatory speeches in which he declared that Sikhs should leave Kanpur. He encouraged Hindus not to pay for Sikh properties but to seize them without cost. His actions created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, preventing many Sikhs from rebuilding their businesses and lives after the pogrom.
Sikhs in Kanpur were frequently taunted with comments like, “Sardarji, kab Khalistan lay rahe ho?” (“When will you bring Khalistan?”). Due to these constant threats, a significant number of Sikh families began leaving Kanpur. The Tata Express, which links Kanpur with Amritsar, became known as a “refugee train” for Kanpur Sikhs. Every time the train departed Kanpur railway station, it carried at least two Sikh families relocating back to Punjab with their belongings. Nearly half of the properties owned by Sikhs in Kanpur were sold, often at half their market value. No new land was purchased by Sikhs in Kanpur after 1984, and incomplete houses were left abandoned.
However, this cycle of fear and oppression came to an end with the assassination of Katyal. After his death, the Sikh community in Kanpur regained a sense of confidence and dignity. Many who had left the city returned, and life for the remaining Sikhs gradually improved. While 75% of Kanpur’s Sikh population had already left, the assassination marked a turning point, enabling some to rebuild their lives and reclaim their place in the city.
Assassination of Vilayati Ram Katyal – April 5, 1988
After months of meticulous planning, Vilayati Ram Katyal was assassinated on April 5, 1988, in Kanpur by KCF.
On that day, Katyal left his home at 8:30 a.m., riding a scooter with his bodyguard, Santosh Kumar, seated on the pillion. He was on his way to attend a panchayat (a local meeting often held to resolve disputes). As part of his routine, Katyal stopped near a house under construction, which belonged to one of his relatives. He would regularly visit this site to oversee the ongoing work.
Unknown to Katyal, three Kharku Singhs from the Khalistan Commando Force were lying in wait near the site. These Singhs were Bhai Kawaljit Singh Sultanwind, Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh Bholla Khaparkheri (also known as Sukhvir Singh), and Bhai Satwinder Singh Kahlon aka Sethi. They were stationed in a white Maruti car, parked discreetly near a nursing home in Ratan Lal Nagar, Kanpur. Each was armed and ready for the mission.
As Katyal approached on his scooter, one of the Singhs, described as a stout Sikh wearing a blue parka, faded blue jeans, and a colored checked shirt, stepped out from the car. Without hesitation, he unleashed the first burst of gunfire, instantly bringing down Katyal and his bodyguard, Santosh Kumar. The rapid succession of shots caused chaos in the area.
A second burst of gunfire followed this time fired from within the Maruti car, ensuring that both Katyal and his bodyguard were riddled with bullets. Witnesses described the precision and coordination of the attack, which left little chance of survival. Before leaving the scene, the Kharku Singhs ensured Katyal’s death by physically checking his body to confirm that there were no signs of movement.
According to the prosecution, the weapons used in the assassination included an AK-47 assault rifle and an American-made AR-15 automatic rifle, reflecting the advanced resources at the disposal of the Khalistan Commando Force.
This high-profile assassination sent shockwaves through Kanpur and Delhi. It was seen as a direct retaliation for Katyal’s alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom. The meticulous execution of the plan and the choice of weapons demonstrated the determination and operational capability of the Khalistan movement’s fighters.
Aftermath and Singhs’ Arrest
Following the assassination of Vilayati Ram Katyal, the police launched a nationwide manhunt to capture the Kharku Singhs involved. The state assembly was adjourned, highways across Uttar Pradesh were blocked, and an intensive search operation was carried out in Kanpur.
Despite the meticulous planning of the mission, betrayal by a traitor led to the arrest of Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh Bholla Khaparkheri (also known as Sukhvir Singh) and Bhai Satwinder Singh Kahlon (known as Sethi). They were apprehended from a hotel in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, along with the white Maruti car used during the operation. Both Singhs attempted to swallow cyanide capsules to avoid capture but were rushed to a hospital, where they were treated and subsequently recovered.
Further arrests followed, with Bhai Gurbux Singh and his brother, Surinder Singh, being captured in Kanpur. The police registered FIR Number 145/1988 at the Govind Nagar Police Station in Kanpur. A total of eight individuals were charged in the case. The chargesheet named the following accused:
- Rajvinder Singh alias Bhola
- Bhai Satwinder Singh Kahlon (known as Sethi)
- Krishna Dutta Bajpai
- Devendra Singh alias Bantee
- Nirmal Singh alias Nimma
- Surendra Singh alias Vikki
- Gurbux Singh alias Raja
- Gurudayal Singh
Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh and Bhai Satwinder Singh were sentenced to imprisonment and served their term from 1988 to 2004. After nearly 16 years in prison, they were granted bail and returned to their lives outside captivity.
Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh’s Early Journey in the Kharku Movement
Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh Bholla Khaparkheri was a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, having joined the Kharku struggle in the early 1980s during his teenage years. In early 1980, during his school days, he joined the Sant Bhindranwala Jatha at Sri Darbar Sahib during Dharam Yudh Morcha. His involvement with the movement was deeply rooted in his dedication to the Sikh cause. He was also a member of the Bhai Jinda-Sukha group, commonly referred to as the “Delhi Group,” which was known for its high-profile missions and acts of retaliation against those responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms, such as the assassination of Lalit Maken, Arjun Das, and General Vaidya.
Nowadays, Bhai Rajiv Inder Singh Bholla Khaparkheri living his normal life in Punjab.
The arrests and subsequent imprisonment of these Kharku Singhs reflected the intense resistance movement of the time and the heavy price paid by individuals involved in the fight for justice and Sikh sovereignty.
