Shaheed Bhai Davinder Singh Nijjar

Khalistan Commando Force

 

Bhai Davinder Singh was born to the blessed womb of Mata Kans Kaur and in the house of Sardar Harbans Singh, in the village of Nijjar, near Feruman, Raiyya, Amritsar. He was one of eight children, with five sisters and two brothers – eldest, Bibi Surinder Kaur, Bibi Narinder Kaur, Bibi Kartar Kaur, Bhai Atma Singh, Bibi Rajwant Kaur, Bhai Davinder Singh, Bibi Jasbir Kaur and the youngest, Bhai Patwinder Singh. Bhai Davinder Singh studied up to tenth grade, his father owned a local mill and provided a service to all local villagers and farmers in grinding wheat and corn flour. As well as this, Sardar Harbans Singh was also a craftsman. This is how the family earned their livelihood.

 

June 1984 witnessed the attack by the Indian Government on the holiest site of the Sikhs, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. This event preceded an armed struggle, the fight for freedom from the tyrannical and oppressive Indian government. The fight for a free homeland Khalistan was declared. Many militia groups were formed, expanding a state wide guerilla warfare against the rule of the state and central Indian government. Bhai Davinder Singh’s home became a rest house for many Jhujaru Singhs passing the area. Bhai Davinder Singh’s family would serve them fresh hot meals, a place to rest and provide any other support as needed.

 

Bhai Davinder Singh first came into contact and grew close with Jhujaru Bhai Davinder Singh Commando (village Sultanwind) from the Khalistan Commando Force, Bhai Commando’s maternal family were from the village of Nijjar and so he visited there often. Through these regular meetings and understanding the cause and mission of the movement, Bhai Davinder Singh decided to join the Khalistan Commando Force to serve alongside the Jhujaru Singhs. Bhai Sahib also became close to other Jhujaru Singhs, such as Bhai Kulwinder Singh Bittu (also from the same home village) and Bhai Jarnail Singh Buh. Both eventually attained Shaheedi (martyrdom) during the movement. During his time serving with Khalistan Commando Force, Bhai Davinder Singh was picked up by the police a couple of times. Their local village leader Joginder Singh had good relations with the DSP of the area. Joginder Singh on both occasions put in a good word and managed to get Bhai Davinder Singh released on bail.

 

One day in November 1992, Bhai Davinder Singh went to meet with the village Sarpanch (village leader) of Gadarjada, near Kathunangal. Whilst at the meeting, the police were tipped off by an informant and the Jhujaru Singhs were immediately surrounded by police forces at the meeting location. Bhai Davinder Singh and two other Jhujaru Singhs – Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Dhariwal Beth and Bhai Hardeep Singh Paloe were killed in a fake encounter, attaining Shaheedi (martyrdom). Bhai Davinder Singhs family pleaded for the dead bodies of these brave lions. But the police refused to hand the bodies. The bodies were cremated in an unknown location by the police and handed over the ashes to the family. The police continued to harass the family even after Bhai Davinder Singh’s martyrdom.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Davinder Singh Nijjar