Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Ghukeywali

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

 

Bhai Avtar Singh was born in the year 1966, to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Swaran Kaur and in the house of father, Sardar Karam Singh, in the village of Ghukeywali, near Guru Ka Bagh, Ajnala. Bhai Sahib was the youngest of six children, with four brothers and one sister. Like the majority of families in Punjab, this family earned a living from farming and agriculture. They were also very devoted to their Sikhi and lived a Gursikh lifestyle. Bhai Avtar Singh studied up to tenth grade at a nearby village school in Guru Ka Bagh. Soon after, he secured a job with Punjab Roadways as a conductor. His Anand Karaj (marriage) was arranged with Bibi Harjinder Kaur in 1983. They were blessed with three sons; Gurpreet Singh, Harpreet Singh and Zorawar Singh. Bhai Avtar Singh worked the conductor job for two years, after which he turned to farming and agriculture. He worked alongside his brothers and father to cultivate their family-owned land.

 

Bhai Sahib’s family history narrates that their grandfather, Sardar Teja Singh known as Jathedar Teja Singh, was a great freedom fighter during the fight against British Rule 1920s-1940s. Bhai Sahib’s grandfather was part of the renowned Akali Lehar Movement. He also spent time in jail during the 1922 Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. In this way, Jathedar Teja Singh participated in many of the movements of the time against the struggle for freedom against the British Rule. Jathedar Teja Singh also spent six months in Kala Pani Jail. The British Rule attempted to bribe Jathedar Teja Singh with the opportunity to become a Sarpanch (leader of the village), but he out-right refused. The passion and vigour to fight for righteousness and become a freedom fighter was in the family blood.

 

In the year 1988, Bhai Avtar Singh was falsely accused and implicated for a murder which he did not commit. Under the pretence of this false accusation, the police wanted to pick up yet another innocent young Sikh male under the guise of Operation Woodrose. Bhai Avtar was brutally tortured by the police and this episode caused him much distress and anger towards the police and government. He was forced to spend unaccounted jail time and then was eventually released following a failed case. Bhai Avtar Singh knew there were Jhujaru Singhs who regularly passed through his village Gurdwara Sahib. He was fortunate to serve the Jhujaru Singh langar and ensured they had a place to rest here.

 

During this period, Bhai Sahib came into contact with Bhai Swaran Singh Jahaj (village Soriya, near Ajnala), Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma Fauji and others. Bhai Avtar Singh was determined to join them and fight against the oppression inflicted on the Sikh nation. The fight for a free homeland, Khalistan was now the only way to tear away from the tyrannical powers of India both State and Central. At this point, the Punjab police were picking up innocent young Sikh males across Punjab who were then tortured, humiliated, thrown in jails and killed by fake encounters. The Indian Government used this as a disguise to wipe out militancy, but the reality was to wipe out Sikh faith and to damage the psyche by wiping out Amritdhari Sikhs who observed Turbans, uncut beards and religious attire (Kirpans etc). This had led to many Young Sikh Males then took refuge under the Jhujaru Singhs and joined the armed movement.

 

Bhai Avtar Singh served alongside the Jhujaru Singhs as part of the well-known militia group, Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan under the command of Bhai Satnam Singh Sheena. The Punjab police soon got wind of this and again picked up Bhai Avtar Singh falsely implicating him in false cases. He was charged under the NSA Act (National Security Act) and detained in Nabha Jail, serving up to one year. He was eventually released on bail. Upon release, Bhai Avtar Singh did not rush back to his home comforts, his heart, mind and soul was dedicated to the Sikh nation and the fight for Khalistan. He again reunited with the Jhujaru Singhs and continued his service. He served under the command of Bhai Sukhdev Singh Chhota Sheena (village Harsi Chhina, Ajnala), Bhai Kuldip Singh (village Bhakna, Amritsar), Bhai Ranjit Singh Jeeta (village Charpur, Gagomahal, Ajnala) Bhai Swaran Singh Sonu (village Mandara Wala, Ajnala), Bhai Sewa Singh Cheema (village Kalan Chal Attari), Bhai Paramjit Singh Fauji (village Sensra), Bhai Major Singh (village Khatrai Kallan) and many other Jhujaru Singhs.

 

On 12th November 1991, Bhai Avtar Singh and his family were visiting Sri Anandpur Sahib. They had planned to stay a few days. It was said that Bhai Avtar Singh had come into dispute with one section of Jhujaru Singhs. Because of this, his whereabouts was touted to the police and was captured then shot, attaining Shaheedi (martyrdom).

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Ghukeywali