Shaheed Bhai Prem Singh Ghaseetpura

 

Bhai Prem Singh was born to the blessed womb of Mata Puran Kaur (Puran Devi) and Sardar Balehar Singh (Bihari Lal) in the village of Jamalpur (near Batala), District Amritsar. Bhai Sahib was the third eldest of five siblings: three sisters and one brother, Bibi Kamlesh Kaur (Roop Rani), Bibi Darshan Kaur (Darshana Rani), Bhai Prem Singh (Shaheed), Bibi Pushpa Rani and Bhai Bakhshish Singh Kalyug (Shaheed). Bhai Prem Singh completed his education up to the tenth grade.

 

This family holds profound significance in Sikh history. The brother of Mata Puran Kaur was the revered Shaheed Giani Mohar Singh, who, along with his wife and two young daughters, attained Shaheedi during the Battle of Amritsar in June 1984. In a supreme act of devotion and defiance, the family—armed with explosives—confronted Indian Army tanks entering Sri Darbar Sahib. Their self-sacrifice resulted in the destruction of a tank and momentarily halted the army’s advance into the sacred complex. All four members of this courageous family attained martyrdom.What makes their sacrifice even more remarkable is that they had not only offered their lives for the Guru but had also embraced the Sikh faith wholeheartedly, having come from a Hindu background. Their original names reflect this transition, underscoring the depth of their spiritual commitment.

 

In the days leading up to the Indian government’s assault on Sri Harmandir Sahib in June 1984, both Bhai Bakhshish Singh and Bhai Prem Singh were present with the Sikh congregation at Sri Darbar Sahib. However, Giani Mohar Singh instructed them to return home, insisting that their Sewa (selfless service) would be needed in the years to come. As destiny would have it, both brothers later joined the armed struggle, becoming part of Jhujaru groups and dedicating their lives to the cause of Khalistan.

 

During this turbulent time, a pseudo-Nihang named Ajit Phoola, a notorious black cat operative affiliated with the Punjab Police, unleashed unspeakable terror across Punjab. Known for his brutality, he committed horrific acts including torture, sexual violence, and the murder of countless young Sikh men. This family, too, suffered under his tyranny. He targeted them specifically for renouncing their Hindu heritage and embracing Sikhi, and for their active role in the Khalistan movement. In a fit of rage, he once taunted them, saying, “Being Brahmins, why have you become Sikhs and now Kharkus?” He even went so far as to burn down Bhai Sahib’s family home. In response to the growing threats, Bhai Prem Singh relocated to the headquarters of Damdami Taksal at Mehta Chownk, where he dedicated himself to training youth in hockey and served at the Sant Gurbachan Singh Academy.

 

In 1991, while on his way to the academy within the Taksal complex, Bhai Prem Singh was abducted in broad daylight by the police, who forcibly threw him into a vehicle. He was subjected to inhumane torture for seventeen days. Despite their relentless efforts, the authorities failed to extract any information from him. Frustrated and unable to break his spirit, they decided to eliminate him.

Bhai Prem Singh, along with fellow Jhujaru Singh Bhai Joga Singh Khanpur, were taken to an undisclosed location and executed in a staged encounter. Both attained Shaheedi, joining the ranks of countless brave souls who laid down their lives for the Sikh struggle.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Prem Singh Ghaseetpura