Shaheed Bhai Harwant Singh Chananke alias Kamaljit Singh Fauji

Khalistan Armed Force

 

Bhai Harwant Singh was born to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Daljit Kaur and in the house of father, Sardar Harbhej Singh, in the village of Chananke, near Nath Di Khui, Baba Bakala, district Amritsar. Bhai Sahib was one of five children, with two sisters and two brothers – eldest being Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur, Bhai Dhanwant Singh, Bhai Harwant Singh, Bhai Sarabjeet Singh and the youngest, Bibi Pardeep Kaur. Like most families in Punjab, Bhai Harwant Singh hailed from a farmer’s family with their livelihood rooted in agriculture. Bhai Sahib’s family-owned land was farmed to grow crops such as wheat, then sold for an annual income. Bhai Harwant Singh studied up to fifth grade at his local village school in Chananke. He then went on to work alongside his family members in agriculture and tending to their farmlands.

 

Sometime later, Bhai Sahib left his village and went to stay with his aunt (Father’s Sister) in the village of Baroda. Here he began labour work in a factory. During this period, the armed struggle was in full force. This guerilla warfare evolved following the attack by the Indian Government on the holiest site of the Sikhs – Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. Bhai Harwant Singh was a dedicated practising Sikh and his appearance reflected the same. Although, he wasn’t directly involved in the armed struggle, he knew many of the Sikh youth from his area had decided to join the movement and dedicate their efforts for the fight for Khalistan. Bhai Harwant Singh, would often secretly meet his closest friends such as Bhai Jagtar Singh Chananke and also Bhai Joga Singh Khanpur.

 

Unfair to Bhai Sahib, a local villager who represented the Comrade thought, falsely reported and touted him to the police. This caused the police to start harassing Bhai Sahib. Bhai Harwant Singh had no choice but to go underground. He went on to serve alongside Bhai Jagtar Singh Chananke, under the leadership of Bhai Joga Singh Khanpur of Khalistan Armed Force. Due their Jhujaru activities, they had relocated to Mumbai. In March 1993, Bhai Harwant Singh plus four of his fellow Jhujaru Singhs were unexpectedly caught in Mumbai by the police, most likely by an inside informant. On 26th March 1993, Bhai Harwant Singh and Bhai Lakhwinder Singh Langra were taken to the village of Sukha Chirra and martyred in a fake encounter, where they attained Shaheedi.

 

News Article:

2 Jhujaru Singh Killed – (Report from Batala) under the investigation of Batala police, in an encounter in village Sukha Chirra near Rangar Nangal, 2 Jhujaru Singhs of Khalistan Armed Force were killed. The Jhujaru Singhs were identified as Harwant Singh alias Kamaljit Singh alias Fauji and Lakhwinder Singh alias Langra.

 

The SSP of Batala, Rohit Chaudhry and SP Dec R S Khatra told the press that they had received confirmed information that some militants were holding a meeting on the outskirts of Sukha Chirra. When the police reached the location, the militants ran into the farms and started firing at the police. The police also returned fire, due to which both militants were killed. 1x General Purpose Machine Gun, 1x AK47 Assault Rifle, 1x Grenade and ammunition was found on the dead militants.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Harwant Singh Chananke