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Numerous Sikh fighters sacrificed their lives during the Kharku struggle, all driven by their fight against government oppression, the protection of Punjab’s rights, and the pursuit of legitimate causes. Among these courageous Sikhs, many performed remarkable deeds that continue to resonate today, earning gratitude from the people of Punjab. Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana stands out as one such figure who played a crucial role in resolving Punjab’s river water issue. When Indira Gandhi initiated the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal’s groundwork and the Barnala government commenced its construction, Kharkus stepped in to halt its progress, safeguarding Punjab from water scarcity.

Birth and Early Life

Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana was born in July 1962 in village Jatana near Rupnagar to father Sohan Singh and mother Mata Nasib Kaur. He had three siblings: Surinder Kaur (sister), Nirmal Kaur (sister), and Pawan Singh (brother). Balwinder Singh attended Jatana Primary School for his early education up to the fifth grade. He completed his Matriculation from High School Bela and earned his B.A. from Amar Shaheed Baba Ajeet Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial College in Bela, Ropar. Subsequently, he pursued an M.A. at Ropar College. Since childhood, Bhai Balwinder Singh had a keen interest in reading and writing.

AISSF Membership

In 1984, when the Indian army attacked Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, the conflict between the government and the Sikhs began. During his college days, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana connected with his fellow villager, Inderjit Singh Jatana, and actively joined the All India Sikh Students Federation. Initially, they organized a Kirtan Durbar in their village of Jatana. This caught the attention of the police, resulting in Balwinder Singh’s arrest by the Chamkaur Sahib police. However, he was released due to the intervention of the village panchayat.

In 1985, while pursuing his MA studies at the government college in Ropar, Balwinder Singh initiated an Akhand Path, marking the first-ever occurrence of such an event in the college. He gathered fellow federation members and engaged in discussions with the college principal. After much debate, the college finally agreed. The Akhand Path Sahib took place, and during the Bhog Ceremony, Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib at that time, visited the function. Once again, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana became the focus of police attention.

Once a Kharku Singh spent the night in his hostel room. On the information, the Patiala police raided and took him for interrogation from the hostel. He was subjected to extreme torture. Federation workers and local leaders succeeded in rescuing him.

Joining the Movement

While in the final stages of his MA studies, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana faced continuous harassment from the police, compelling him to go into hiding. Learning that another person caught had disclosed his name for his clandestine Kharku activities, he made a sudden visit to his home on Vaisakhi morning in 1986. Gathering his photos and essential documents, he cautioned his family about potential police visits, saying, “Be careful, the police will come.” Later that night, the police raided his house, leading to the arrest of his father and uncle since he was not there. Despite intense questioning, his family and relatives couldn’t provide any information about his whereabouts.

Subsequently, Bhai Balwinder Singh became a notable member of the “Babar Khalsa” organization and was appointed as the head of the Malwa zone. Going underground made him a thorn in the side of police informants and authorities while earning admiration as a savior among the local populace.

His father urged him to surrender to spare the family from police harassment. In response, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana expressed his fear of being killed in a staged police encounter upon surrendering. He vowed to fight for the Sikh Panth, stating, “If I surrender, they will kill me in a fake encounter. It’s better to fight and die.” His father supported his decision, saying, “If you choose not to surrender, then make sure you achieve something significant for the Sikh community. We won’t regret it if you die after doing something great.”

Beloved Figure Among the People

Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, a youngster of average height, held a special place among the Kharku ranks. Endowed with all the qualities of a leader, he was highly regarded in the region. Even the Hindu community saw him as their protector. Due to his unwavering dedication to the movement, the police relentlessly pursued him, putting immense pressure on his family by summoning them to the police stations daily. Despite the government placing a bounty of 16 lakh rupees on his head, such concerns didn’t bother this hero.

Bhai Jatana was well-versed in the art of leading an underground life. He seized every opportunity to assist the needy, garnering their support and empathy. Alongside Bhai Balwinder Singh, other dedicated Singhs such as Bhai Charanjit Singh Channa (village Jhallian), Bhai Harmeet Singh Bhauwal, Bhai Jaswinder Singh Kala Bhauwal, Bhai Bhagat Singh Bhagta Ropar, Bhai Bisheshar Singh Fauji Luhari (Fatehgarh Sahib), Bhai Dhyan Singh Janjhori, Bhai Baldev Singh Bhaku Majra, Bhai Davinder Singh Kheri, Bhai Amarjit Singh Kheri, Bhai Gurmeet Singh Aghi, Bhai Fultar Singh Ferozepur, and many others collectively took Kharku actions in the Malwa region alongside Bhai Balwinder Singh.

Justice by Babbar Khalsa

An incident illustrating the Babbar Khalsa’s sense of justice, detailed in newspapers, sheds light on the character of Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana. In this event, a group led by Jaspal Kaka misrepresented themselves as Kharku Singhs while operating within the police force to discredit the movement. They visited a Hindu household in Martha village, Morinda area, claiming to be Singhs of Babbar Khalsa. The family, feeling threatened, offered them food and water. However, after consuming the hospitality, this group forcibly abducted a 12-year-old girl from the Hindu family. They took her to an undisclosed location where the four members of the group subjected the innocent girl to molestation.

After perpetrating this heinous act, these individuals, operating under the guise of the police, shamelessly returned the girl to her home. The distraught Hindu family discussed with some neighbors about the appalling incident. Subsequently, the group revisited the house, insisting that the family send their girl with them, claiming their Jathedar was waiting outside. They also expressed interest in taking the elder girl from the family. To buy time, the frightened family offered water and services to confuse this group, while discreetly informing their neighbors about the situation.

Upon learning of the incident, locals gathered and surrounded the police cats group. While two men managed to escape, two were captured. Despite villagers handing over the captured individuals to the police, how could the police act on their own employees? In an attempt to settle the matter, the police chose not to pursue the case, opting instead to impose a 5,000 rupee fine on the accused, mediated by the panchayat.

News of this incident circulated and eventually reached Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, the Babbar Khalsa’s Malwa leader. Deeply angered by the vile acts committed in the name of Babbar Khalsa, Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, along with authentic Babbar Khalsa members, confronted Jaspal Kaka, the leader of the false Babbar group created by the police. Gathering the villagers, they compelled this deceitful leader to confess to his crimes, perpetrated in collaboration with the police. Subsequently, they executed him on the Morinda-Chunni road. This incident made headlines in numerous newspapers on 20 November 1990, focusing on Balwinder Singh Jatana and his decisive action. The remaining three members of this deceitful group were escorted away by the police under their protection.

Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana utilized newspapers to urge people who faced abuse in the name of Kharku Singhs to reach out for support and assistance from Babbar Khalsa.

Actions

Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana and Bhai Charanjit Singh Jhallian were almost always involved together in every significant Kharku action. For instance, they took action against an abusive ASI named Sohan Singh in Ropar district, who harassed Kharku Singhs and insulted Sikh values. Bhai Sahib played a crucial role in dealing with such individuals. Likewise, they also addressed the issue of a corrupt Police Officer in Morinda, known for extorting money by wrongfully imprisoning innocent Singhs.

During an incident where DCP Pinjore attempted to arrest Bhai Balwinder Singh and four other Singh, he ended up injuring himself, and all the Singhs also sustained injuries due to police gunfire. Despite the police’s reputation for torturing innocent people and their attempts to locate Bhai Sahib using helicopters, by the grace of God, all the Singhs managed to reach safety in their places.

SYL Canal

Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana gained notoriety for his action that halted the construction of the SYL canal by eliminating the canal engineers. As a result, the work on the canal stopped at that point and has not been resumed to this day. On July 23, 1990, around 10:30 in the morning, in Sector 26 of Chandigarh, the SYL project head office was bustling with staff engaged in their tasks. Meanwhile, a meeting of officers was in progress on the second floor. At that moment, four determined Singhs arrived at the office riding scooters.

Upon reaching the second floor, as they advanced towards the meeting room, the attendant, Bhola Prashad, intercepted these Kharkus. Witnessing the Singhs carrying pistols with silencers, the attendant panicked and swiftly retreated, even jumping from the second floor in haste.

Within moments, all the Singhs entered the meeting room, where they encountered and assassinated the chief engineer of SYL, ML Sekhri, and the superintending engineer Avtar Singh Aulakh. Subsequently, the Singhs calmly exited the office premises and fled on their scooters. Following this decisive action, the government faced a significant setback in the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal project, prompting an immediate cessation of construction. Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana, along with his accomplices—Bhai Jagtar Singh Panjola, Bhai Balbir Singh Fauji Makrod, and supported by Bhai Harmeet Singh Bhauwal—undertook this operation to halt the canal’s construction.

Brutalities over Family

The moment Bhai Balwinder Singh went into hiding, a series of police operations began, targeting his family with relentless brutality. They faced frequent detentions, shifting from one police station to another, encountering both arrests and releases. There was hardly any police station they hadn’t been to. His father, Sohan Singh, uncle Ramdas Singh, and other relatives endured regular police detentions. The authorities used physical violence on his father and constantly threatened him, demanding information about Balwinder’s whereabouts.

During an incident involving the killing of a DSP near Chandi Mandir, Bhai Balwinder Singh’s father and uncle were taken into custody by the police. They were moved across multiple police stations in Haryana and subjected to relentless questioning about Balwinder Singh’s location. The authorities resorted to severe beatings and threats against Sohan Singh. At one point, they brought out a large beating strap and struck Sohan Singh several times. when Sohan Singh said I had already told you what I knew, I don’t know more than that, of course, shoot me now if you want.” After that police stopped the torture and released both of them after a few days.

The harassment extended to the family through a police officer named Radhe Sham, who often targeted them. During one raid, Radhe Sham falsely claimed that Balwinder had The extent of police torture was evident through the relentless harassment by Officer Radhe Sham towards the family. During one police raid, Officer Radhe Sham falsely claimed that Balwinder had passed through a side window. Sohan Singh, Balwinder’s father, pointed out the physical impossibility of such an act, explaining that the window had a wooden grille with iron rods fixed in place, making it impossible to pass through. However, despite the futile explanation, the officer proceeded to take Sohan Singh to Ropar police station, subjecting him to severe torture.

This same officer, Radhe Sham, repeatedly threatened to set the house on fire if Balwinder wasn’t handed over. Bhai Sahib’s Aunt (Shaheed) Bibi Jasmer Kaur, displaying immense bravery, handed Radhe Sham a matchbox, daring him to carry out his threat. Bibi Jasmer Kaur was known for her fearlessness and outspoken nature. Reports suggest she had numerous injuries after the village Jatana Massacre, indicating her resistance against the attackers. She was fatally shot in the forehead, presumably by a group of attackers who forcibly held her down. Despite warnings during the Saini attack, she bravely refused to seek shelter elsewhere, believing the worst would only be arrest and torture.

Jatana Massacre – 29 August 1991

On August 29, 1991, a group of Kharkus attacked SSP Sumedh Saini in Chandigarh. During the attack, Saini’s car exploded, resulting in the deaths of his driver and bodyguard. However, Sumedh Saini managed to escape, albeit with severe injuries. Subsequently, Ajit Poohla, a government-affiliated Police Cat, visited Saini at PGI to inquire about his condition. Poohla, addressing journalists afterward, vowed revenge for the attack on Saini.

In pursuit of revenge, Ajit Poohla and his gang hiding within the Nihang Bana were observed seeking directions to Jatana village on the same night. However, they mistakenly targeted the village near Doraha instead of the one near Chamkaur Sahib, where Bhai Balwinder Singh resided.

The group of assailants arrived at Bhai Jatana’s village in the early hours of the morning, at dawn, and knocked on the door of Bhai Balwinder Singh’s house. Upon the family members opening the door, the Nihang group unleashed gunfire on everyone present. The attack claimed the lives of Bhai Balwinder Singh’s grandmother, Dwarki Kaur (80 years old), his aunt, Jasmer Kaur (40 years old), his sister, Manpreet Kaur (13 years old), and his nephew, Simranjit Singh (5 years old and already afflicted by polio). After that, they put all the house clothes over the bodies and set the house on fire. Leaving the burning house, the murderous gang went away with complete satisfaction.

Despite the horrendous loss and agony inflicted by the government’s wrath, Bhai Jatana maintained his composure and resilience. Upon receiving the devastating news, instead of shedding tears, he calmly smiled and remarked, “It is alright. Now we can proudly declare that we attempted to follow the footsteps of Guru Gobind Singh Ji…”.

Shaheedi –4 September 1991

After the Jatana Village Massacre, about five to six days later, on 4 September 1991, Bhai Balwinder Singh and Bhai Charanjit Singh Channa were heading back from a meeting in Patiala. During their journey, near Sadhugarh, they were intercepted at a checkpoint based on credible information. It was approximately 2:30 pm when Bhai Balwinder Singh Jatana and Bhai Charanjit Singh were traveling in a white gypsy with the registration number CH-01 8206. The police signaled them to stop.

Bhai Jatana possessed a counterfeit CBI officer identity card with the name Jasbir Singh, and Bhai Channa posed as the driver. When Bhai Jatana presented the (fake) identity card at the checkpoint, the police officers there saluted, allowing them to pass through the checkpoint easily.

However, seated in the back was an informer, alleged by some sources to be Daljit Singh Dalli, a former Kharku turned into a police informant. He remarked to the officers, “Look, your father has crossed, so why did you set up the barricades?” As soon as this statement was made, the police forces began pursuing Bhai Jatana and Bhai Channa’s gypsy. Trying to evade, Bhai Channa drove the vehicle faster, aiming towards Saidpur village. Unfortunately, the gypsy overturned, forcing both of them to flee into the nearby paddy fields. The police started firing indiscriminately. Both warriors had limited ammunition, which quickly ran out.

Bhai Charanjit Singh Channa sustained severe injuries. Despite Bhai Channa’s insistence that Bhai Jatana may leave him behind, but Bhai Jatana refused to abandon his injured friend. Eventually, both courageous souls, committed to the cause, upheld their bond of friendship and drank Jam-e-Shahadat together by eating cyanide.

Aftermath