Shaheed Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana

Khalistan Commando Force/ Babbar Khalsa

 

Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana, a Jhujaru martyr of the Sikh organization Khalistan Commando Force, who fought for Sikh rights during the Sikh struggle initiated by the great martyr, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, was born on 14th May 1965 in the house of Sardar Atma Singh and from the blessed womb of Mata Joginder Kaur at Sangola village of Kapurthala district. Sardar Atma Singh was blessed with a daughter and four sons, among them were Bibi Baljinder Kaur, Bhai Sukhmeet Singh, Bhai Dalbir Singh, Bhai Iqbal Singh and Shaheed Bhai Raghbir Singh. Bhai Raghbir Singh started his primary education from the village school and passed the 10th grade exam from Government High School Surakhpur. Bhai Raghbir Singh got admission in Randhir College of Kapurthala after his 10th grade.

 

It was during his college days that one day, Bhai Raghbir Singh went to Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib with his friends, and after bowing down in the court of Guru Ramdas Ji Maharaj, he went to Divan Hall of Sri Manji Sahib and saw a group of Sikhs that were taking part in the Dharma Yudh Morcha, the sight of care-free Sikhs, who were ready to lay their lives for the Sikh nation stopped Bhai Nimana and put him in deep thought. When Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale started the Dharam Yudh Morcha, Bhai Raghbir Singh and his friends listened to the whole speech of the Sant Ji, the words of the great saint had such an impact that he came back and took the membership of the All India Sikh Students Federation. Along with this, he started actively participating in the activities of the Federation. Soon he was made the Federation President of Randhir College of Kapurthala. Bhai Raghbir Singh went to Gurudwara Gurdarshan Prakash Chowk Mehta, the headquarters of Damdami Taksal, and received the gift of Amrit.

 

One day, Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana was in the city of Kapurthala with his friend, he saw a police officer and a thought came to his mind. Bhai Raghbir Singh started saying to his friend, “Look at the sub-inspector standing, he is wearing a very nice pistol and I would like to take it away and punish the traitors and murderers of the Sikh nation.” But his friend started saying, “Don’t do that, we will be killed empty-handed.” But Bhai Raghbir Singh humbly said, “You just wait and see the colours of God.” Saying this, he went to the sub-inspector and suddenly slapped him with such force that he could not stand and fell down. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana, who was six feet tall, quickly undid his pistol from his belt and pointed it at him, saying, “I’ve got your pistol, do whatever you want now!” The same pistol was later used by Bhai Raghbir Singh to release Shaheed Bhai Jagjit Singh Gill of Ganganagar and Shaheed Bhai Balwinder Singh Dhillon from the jail in Kapurthala. When Bhai Jagjit Singh Gill Ganganagar and Bhai Balwinder Singh were broken out from Kapurthala Jail by Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana along with his Jhujaru accomplices, two security guards were also killed in this action. In the same way, Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana went to Noorpur with one of his Jhujaru companions to assassinate an anti-Sikh element. Bhai Raghbir Singh went into his shop belong to the target and the fellow Jhujaru Singh was keeping the scooter running ready for escape. When Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana started firing at the target, the pistol misfired. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana put the pistol in his pocket instead of trying to fix the pistol. He put both hands together and hit the head of the enemy with such force that he became unconscious and he never regained consciousness ever again This incident is a testimony to the physical strength and courage of Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana, who was associated with the Khalistan Commando Force and the Sikh Student Federation, later joined forces with the Jhujaru Singhs of the Babbar Khalsa. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana was very fond of Master Sukhwinder Singh Babbar and Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar.

 

Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana was loved and respected by the families that would provide food and shelter. He left his warm memories at homes that he stayed at. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana had stayed in the house of Bhai Mangal Singh Kang at village Kang Sahib Rai near Nakodar. The entire family of Bhai Mangal Singh wholeheartedly helped the Jhujaru Singhs belonging to all Jhujaru groups. There was a special meeting of the Jhujaru Singhs of the organization at Gurdwara Sahib of Malri village which was held on 31st July 1987 at noon. But Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana reached Bhai Mangal Singh Kang’s house in the evening on 30th July. Bhai Nimana talked with the family late at night. Perhaps he was unaware that the following day would be his last day on this earth. The next day, 31st July, the food was served. He was preparing to go to Gurdwara Sahib of Malri village on a bicycle. Bhai Mangal Singh Kang’s family said, “Drink a glass of lassi.” Then Bhai Raghbir Singh humbly started saying, “Okay, but don’t put salt in the lassi, make it sweet.” Riding a bicycle, Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana on his way to the village of Malri. Between the villages Hussainpur and Malri, the Mehmoodpura bridge was blocked by the police. Which often was set up regardless. When Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana approached the police checkpoint, he was stopped by the policemen. It was also a coincidence that Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana, who was always armed, was completely empty-handed on this day.

 

The policemen asked, “Where are you go?” He replied with a name of his friend’s father, who lived in the Malri village. When the policemen took Bhai Nimana to Malri village and to the house of the person he had named. The police asked the occupiers of the house, “This person said he is coming to your house, do you know him?” The occupiers of the house replied, “We do not know him.” Which was also true. Because it was their son who was the friend of Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana did not wait any longer knowing the police have realised and tried to escape. The policemen ran after him also, in front was a field of corn. Bhai Raghbir Singh entered these fields and got out from the other side, the police did not enter the field and started walking to the other side to surround the field from outside. The field had been sprayed with an anti-pesticide formula which is highly toxic. Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana came out after crossing the field and went to tubewell that was running nearby. Bhai Nimana felt very thirsty due to the pesticide spray, he drank water from the tubewell and while drinking the water, Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana fell down and attained martyred. Eyewitnesses had said that Bhai Raghbir Singh Nimana was being chased by the police while he was shouting Khalistan Zindabad, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale Zindabad.

 

Information given by Bhai Lovshinder Singh Dalewal