Shaheed Bhai Dalvinder Singh alias Baba Chup

Khalistan Liberation Force

 

Bhai Dalwinder Singh alias Baba Chup was born in the house of Sardar Ratan Singh and from the blessed womb of Mata Savinder Kaur in the year 1961 at village Ugrewal, near Batala, district Gurdaspur. He had elder brothers, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, Bhai Jasbir Singh and a younger brother, Dr. Palwinder Singh, he also had 4 sisters, Bibi Swaran Kaur, Bibi Amrik Kaur, Bibi Paramjit Kaur and Bibi Rajwinder Kaur. Bhai Dalwinder Singh did his primary education from Government High School in village Mirza Jan, and completed his ITI from Batala. Bhai Sahib was a top football player. It was his nature from childhood to associate with Sikh saints. The salary that Bhai Sahib got from his police job was mainly donated to Gurdwaras and spent on the needy people. Bhai Sahib had a quiet personality, he would listen to others but never give an answer. He always was seen reciting on the name of true lord, Waheguru. Before the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib in June 1984, Bhai Sahib would attend Sri Darbar Sahib to listen to the speeches of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale whenever he had a day off from work. Bhai Sahib was blessed with Amrit from the Damdami Taksal’s Panj Pyare at Chownk Mehta in 1983. Bhai Sahib was always seen reciting Sikh prayers from the Sundar Gutka Sahib. No one could know much about Bhai Sahib as he never spoke to anyone. During his time working at the PAP Jalandhar (Police HQ), Bhai Sahib came in contact with General Labh Singh alias Sukha Sipahi and Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal.

 

After the attack of Sri Harimandir Sahib, other police officers such as Bhai Ajit Singh Kaunta, Bhai Balwinder Singh, Bhai Sardool Singh PAP got ready to join the Sikh armed resistance along with Bhai Sahib. It was this group of Jhujaru Singhs along with Bhai Jaspal Singh alias Dhanna Singh, under the command of General Labh Singh and Baba Manochahal that started planning on the assassination of Julio Francis Rabeiro, the DGP of Punjab police who was responsible for killings on many young Sikhs in fake encounters. According to the plan, a jeep was arranged and uniforms of police officers were also arranged. Bhai Balwinder Singh dressed up as a DSP, while other Jhujaru Singhs of the group dressed as gunmen. All the Jhujaru Singhs got ready and boarded the jeep from the secret location and went to Jalandhar PAP on 3rd October 1986. The guard at the gate saw the Singh’s vehicle, saluted them and let it pass. The Singh’s parked their police jeep in the same place where all senior officers parked their jeeps. The 7 Jhujaru Singhs in police uniform got out of their jeep, and made their way towards the residence of the Chief of Police DGP Julio Francis Ribeiro. As they reached the residence, a police officer recognized Bhai Balwinder Singh and said, “Balwinder Singha, what are you dressed up as? What are you doing here?” The Singhs understood that he would alert everyone and not let them pass. The Singhs shot him dead. Ribeiro was walking with his wife in the flowered garden within the compound. The Singhs climbed a high wall and opened fire on Ribeiro, injuring him slightly. Ribeiro was the train officer, he quickly laid on the ground. Ribeiro’s wife also laid down on the ground. The Singhs thought that they had killed the DGP. Singh ran to the second gate on foot and existed the PAP HQ. A truck was waiting for the Singhs, they got into it and fled. The Singhs then left the truck once they reached a safe location, took off their uniforms and put on civil clothes, and one by one, some on a bicycle, some on a donkey cart, went about their way.

 

In this daring attack by the Jhujaru Singhs, Ribeiro survived with injuries. The Singhs sent a clear message to the DGP of Punjab police that Sikhs will not succumb to his oppression. The intentions of the Singhs are irrevocable which cannot be stopped by the fear of death. Singhs will continue to die, they will continue to kill, they will continue to exist. Speaking to the reporters on the same day, Ribeiro said that the Jhujaru Singhs had sent him to the house of death and only God saved him. Ribeiro’s civilian clothes were covered in blood and dirt. A journalist questioned him, “DGP Sir, you have said that 36 terrorists are carrying out terrorism in Punjab. How many of them have been arrested by the police so far and how many of them have been killed in the encounters?” Ribeiro did not answer the journalist’s question. Another journalist questioned him, “DGP Sir, you keep saying terrorism will be crushed, terrorism is ending. Terrorists are fleeing abroad due to pressure from police forces. On the contrary, they came inside the most secure fort and attacked you. How do you explain this?” Ribeiro avoided answering this question also. In the end, Ribeiro made a statement, “Bullet for bullet is not the solution to the Punjab’s problem. Terrorism is a cancerous disease and it is growing. A political solution should be found for this.”

 

Early morning the next day on 4th October 1986, the Punjab police surrounded the village of Ugrewal. Bhai Dalwinder Singh alias Baba Chup’s father Sardar Ratan Singh and brother, Bhai Palwinder Singh were arrested and taken to Dera Baba Nanak police station and interrogated for information of whereabouts of Bhai Dalwinder Singh asking’ “Who is he linked to and where is he?” Sardar Ratan Singh and Bhai Palwinder Singh said, “Dalwinder Singh never spoke at home or in the village, what relationship will he have with anyone? Everyone calls him Baba Chup!” The police officer replied, “Chup’s silence is the root of the problem. Who did not allow such a big secret to open. Still, you will know who he meets?” The brother said, “We do not know what Dalwinder Singh did on his Jalandhar duty, he rarely came to the village. He would not be talking to anyone. We can’t tell you anything about him.” Eventually both members of Bhai Sahib’s family were released after the pressure put on police form the local Panchayats. After attacking Ribero, Bhai Dalwinder Singh became a fugitive and he never came to his village Ugrewal nor did he try to gain fame by making statements in newspapers. Due to which the family avoided from the police brutality.

 

Bhai Dalwinder Singh and Bhai Gurdeep Singh Vakeel were captured by the soldiers of BSF from the Ajnala border and they were handed over to the Punjab police. Punjab police blindly tortured both Singhs in order to gain information on other Jhujaru leaders.  These 2 sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj gave no information about their Jhujaru brothers to the enemy. In the end, the police martyred both Jhujaru Singhs with bullets on a fake encounter. After the police held a press conference stating, “Jhujaru Singhs killed belonged to Khalistan Liberation Force and have been identified as Bhai Gurdeep Singh Vakeel of Jai Singh Maniala village and Bhai Dalwinder Singh alias Baba Chup of Ugrewal village. Bhai Dalwinder Singh was known as Baba Chup amongst Jhujaru Singhs and was a fugitive PAP police officer. Bhai Dalwinder Singh and some other police officers joined the militants and attacked Jalandhar PAP on 4th October 1986. There was a murderous attack on the then Director General of Police Julio Francis Ribeiro in the headquarters. In which J.F. Ribeiro and his wife escaped with minor injuries. Militants shot and killed a soldier in the headquarters. This is a great success of Punjab Police.”

 

The families came to know about the martyrdom of Bhai Dalwinder Singh and Bhai Gurdeep Singh Vakeel after reading the newspapers following morning. For the spiritual peace of Shaheed Dalwinder Singh alias Baba Chup and Shaheed Bhai Gurdeep Singh Vakeel, a Sri Akhand Paath Sahib of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj was done on 17th June 1990 at Village Ugrewal, district Gurdaspur. On this occasion, Sikh devotees from far and near came to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers of Khalistan.

 

Detailed Account of Assassination Plot of JF Rebeiro

Out of all the enemies of the Sikh Kaum one of them is well known, Rebeiro (Julian Francis Rebeiro) who was said to be a Christian by faith. Akali Surjit Singh Barnala’s Government was walking over the bodies of the Shaheeds and leashing tyranny on Punjab. The central Indian Government Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and home minister Boota Singh appointed J.F.Ribeiro as Punjab Police’s D.G.P, he was known to merciless kill Mizahida and as soon as he took command over Punjab Police he implemented his policy – bullet for bullet. Any Khadku Singh that was seen should be shot dead. There is no need for Khadku Singh’s to be presented in court. Rebeiro put rewards on the heads of 36 Khadku Singh’s and said that there is only a handful of Khadku Singh’s. The Singh’s who were arrested during Rebeiro’s police rule, they weren’t taken to court, they were killed in fake encounters and fake stories were published in the newspapers. The Singh’s who were locked behind bars were said to have “ran away” but in reality he would kill them. The head of Khalistan Commando Force – Bhai Manbir Singh Chaheru, Bhai Kulwinder Singh Kid Mohali, Bhai Manjit Singh Bhindi, Bhai Roshan Lal Beraagi, Bhai Tarsem Singh Kuhar, and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Kot Maulvi all were killed behind bars.

 

Rebeiro’s police rule became more of a jungle rule. Anyone who would try and use civilised means to try and talk would be put behind bars under the N.M Tada law. Rebeiro’s police rule bet the injustices that were done in the 18th century. Bhai Anokh Singh Virang Subha Singh’s scalp was removed, his eyes were taken out and his tongue was cut. There was reports and article printed in magazines and newspapers about Panthic Committee member Bhai Gurdev Singh Osmanwala was cut limb by limb and was made Shaheed. During the time that Rebeiro took his responsibility he put a reward on the heads of 36 Khadku Singh’s, but in those days so many Singh’s were killed in police encounters, the newspapers used to be filled with images of the bodies of the Shaheed Singh’s. It was said the encounters were two sided but in reality it was one sided the police officers didn’t even have a scratch on them. Everyone knew about these fake encounters and knew that if they were real then they all would have seen it. The Singh’s that were killed in the dark in fake encounters, their families were never given their bodies. When angered families would fight and take the bodies of their loved ones the marks and bruises on their bodies told the true story behind what actually happened.

 

It is said that when Bhai Anokh Singh’s scalp was removed and when Bhai Gurdev Singh Osmanwala Panthic committee member were tortured Rebeiro was present there and wanted to find out information about all the top Khadku Singh’s. It was Rebeiro who issued the orders of removed Bhai Anokh Singh’s scalp. This truth was leaked by some Sikh police officers. Rebeiro was repeating history, he was repeating the same injustices that Zakhriya Khan done back in the 18th century. Rebeiro considered himself Ajit. One thing Rebeiro didn’t know was that Jhujaroo Khalsa was born in the edge of a sword. A Jhujaroo Khalsa General Labh Singh got in touch with some religious police officers who were protecting Jalandhar’s P.A.P headquarters. General Labh Singh used to be a police officer and had a friend Dalvinder Singh Ugarewal who was a worker in P.A.P, they both used to go to Sri Darbar Sahib to do Darshan and also to listen to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale’s views. General Labh Singh, Dalvinder Singh Sipahi, Baba Ajit Singh Sipahi, Sardool Singh Sipahi (Rahl Chahl), Balwinder Singh Sipahi all joined forces and started to plan Rebeiro’s death.

 

Khadku Yodhe – Maninder Singh Baja