After the partition of Punjab and India’s so-called independence on 15th August 1947, Sikhs felt deeply betrayed. They struggled even for basic rights, including promoting their mother tongue, Punjabi, and establishing a Punjabi-speaking state. From April 1978 until Operation Blue Star in June 1984, Sikhs pursued their rights through peaceful agitations like the ‘Dharam Yudh Morcha.’ During these peaceful protests, the government responded with brutality. By August 1982, over 80 Sikhs had been killed either during peaceful agitations or in fake police encounters.
Disillusioned by the failure of peaceful protests, many young Sikhs believed it was necessary to punish government officials responsible for the murders of innocent Sikhs in police custody or encounters. Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot was one of those who took up arms to bring justice to the evil Chief Minister Darbara Singh, responsible for the martyrdom of over 80 Sikh youths through his police force.
Audio of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on Barsi of Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot
Early Life of Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot
Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot was born in 1954 in the village of Dhurkot, Tehsil Raikot, District Ludhiana, into a devout Gursikh farming family. He completed his middle school education at his village school before joining his family’s agricultural work. Bhai Gurmeet Singh was married before attaining martyrdom and was the only child of his parents.
Joining the Damdami Taksal
From his teenage years, Bhai Gurmeet Singh was deeply inclined toward Gursikhi. During this time, he attended a Katha Diwan by Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale in the nearby village of Narangwal (Ludhiana). Inspired, he dedicated his life to Sikhi Parchar and joined the Damdami Taksal. He enrolled at their headquarters in Mehta, Amritsar, for Gurbani studies and was fortunate to receive the company of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale. After the passing of Sant Kartar Singh Ji, Bhai Gurmeet Singh continued his service under the leadership of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
The Ruthless Regime of Chief Minister Darbara Singh aka ‘Jakria Khan’
Since India’s independence in 1947, Sikhs faced harsh rule by Delhi’s government through their puppet Chief Ministers, selected via so-called democratic elections. Until 6th June 1980, Punjab (including the former state of PEPSU) experienced about seven instances of presidential rule and nine Chief Ministers, none of whom worked for the prosperity of Punjab or its people. Instead, they remained loyal to the Brahminical government of Delhi.
On 6th June 1980, Darbara Singh was selected as the Chief Minister of Punjab from the Congress Party. Sikhs hoped that as a Sikh, he would work for Punjab’s prosperity and address their demands. However, Darbara Singh displayed extreme indifference to Sikh demands, using excessive force on agitating Sikhs, leading to thousands of arrests and the martyrdom of over 80 Sikhs at the hands of his police.
Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale openly challenged the evil Chief Minister Darbara Singh for his sins and violations of Sikh human rights. From the stage of Manji Sahib, Sri Darbar Sahib, Sant Bhindranwale often referred to him as ‘Zakria Khan,’ a Mughal persecutor of Sikhs.
Darbara Singh was responsible for several atrocities and fake encounters, including:
- 9th September 1981: Chando Kalan Incident
- 20th September 1981: Arrest of Sant Bhindranwale, leading to police and paramilitary forces firing on Sikh protesters, resulting in the deaths of 18 protestors
- 16th March 1982: Bhai Hardev Singh Rode (Manawala Kand)
- 11th June 1982: Kulwant Singh Nagoke (Fake encounter)
- 10th July 1982: Bhai Hira Singh Sangojla (Fake encounter)
- 19th July 1982: Bhai Amarjit Singh Daheru (Fake encounter)
- 19th July 1982: Unjustified arrest of Bhai Amrik Singh and Baba Thara Singh
- 20th August 1982: Bhai Manjit Singh aka Museebat Singh (Fake encounter), among others.
Dharam Yudh Morcha – 4 August 1982
On 19th July 1982, Amrik Singh was arrested on charges of potentially offending Governor Chenna Reddy and possibly being involved in an attack on Nirankari leader Joginder Singh Sandhu. Sant Jarnail Singh initiated a morcha (agitation) on the same day for the immediate release of Bhai Amrik Singh and other Sikhs. This movement gained widespread support across Punjab, including from the Akali Dal. Akali Dal President Harcharan Longowal then announced that his morcha would also demand the release of Amrik Singh and address the 45 original demands presented to Indira Gandhi. Consequently, the collective agitation known as “Dharam Yudh Morcha” was launched on 4th August 1982.
The Dharam Yudh Morcha aimed to address Sikh grievances, particularly through the demands outlined in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1973, which called for greater autonomy for Punjab, recognition of Sikh identity, and a fair distribution of river waters.
The primary objectives of the Dharam Yudh Morcha were:
- Implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution: Demands included greater autonomy for Punjab, recognition of Sikh identity, and a fair share of river waters.
- Release of Sikh political prisoners: Many were detained under various laws.
- Protection of Sikh religious rights: Against perceived encroachments by the central government.
- Declaration of Amritsar as a holy city.
- Daily broadcasting of Gurbani from Sri Darbar Sahib on radio.
The movement involved large-scale peaceful protests and civil disobedience. However, the government’s response, including mass arrests and the use of force, escalated tensions. When the government failed to suppress the Sikh spirit through their atrocities, they decided to eliminate the dedicated leadership of Sikhs, like Sant Bhindranwale, by launching Operation Blue Star in June 1984.
The Assassination Attempt on Darbara Singh – 20th August 1982
Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot witnessed the government’s atrocities and, along with Bhai Gurcharan Singh alias Channi and Bhai Bahadur Singh, planned to eliminate the evil Chief Minister Darbara Singh. Despite numerous attempts, Darbara Singh always canceled his plans at the last moment and remained under high security.
On 20th August 1982, Chief Minister Darbara Singh was scheduled to deliver a public address at a girls’ high school in Rahon, SAS Nagar (then Jalandhar), along with Education Minister Harcharan Singh Ajnala. Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot, Bhai Bahadur Singh, and Bhai Gurcharan Singh alias Channi managed to infiltrate the venue. As Darbara Singh began speaking and using derogatory language against the Sikh agitation and Sant Bhindranwale, Bhai Gurmeet Singh hurled grenades toward Darbara Singh from a distance. One bomb and two HE 36 grenades were thrown—the first hit Darbara on the chest but did not explode; the second exploded, injuring 30 people, including Education Minister Harcharan Singh Ajnala, while the third fell on wet ground and did not go off. Darbara Singh claimed to have grabbed the bomb that hit him and “thrown it back.”
Arrest and Martyrdom – 21st August 1982
The police succeeded in arresting Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot and Bhai Gurcharan Singh alias Channi, while Bhai Bahadur Singh managed to escape. They were taken to Rahon Police Station (Jalandhar). On the orders of DIG A.S. Atwal (who was later assassinated on 25th April 1983), Bhai Gurmeet Singh was brutally tortured until death. All twenty nails of both his hands and feet were pulled out with pincers, and salt was sprinkled on his wounds. His hands were also burned over candles.
Despite the inhumane torture, Bhai Gurmeet Singh chanted ‘Waheguru, Waheguru…’ and ‘Sat Sri Akal…’ until his last breath. The police wanted him to admit that Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had sent him and was responsible for the attack. However, when they failed to extract any statement against Sant Bhindranwale from Bhai Gurmeet Singh, they shot him on 21st August 1982 at Talwandi Fattu near Mukandpur, Nawashehar, staging it as a police encounter.
Aftermath
After staging Bhai Gurmeet Singh Dhurkot’s fake encounter, the police returned his body to his family, and he was cremated at the Gurudwara Sahib cremation ground in his village, Dhurkot. Following the assassination attempt, Darbara Singh became even more ruthless. Within a week, he ordered the arrest of about 270 Sikhs (mostly related to Akali Dal) across Punjab under the guise of a ‘preemptive’ crackdown.
written by the Editor of June84.com
