Shaheed Bhai Satnam Singh Chhina

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

 

Chief General of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan, Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina is known amongst the bravest of Sikh warriors who after the attack for Sri Darbar Sahib in June 1984 realised that it is necessary to pick up arms to break the chains of slavery that oppressed the Sikhs of India. Looking at the contribution of Bhai Sheena towards the struggle for Khalistan we realise why he is regarded as one of the most senior Jhujaru Singhs of the movement. This soul that was coloured in the colour Gurbani and meditation had made its mind up on to live and die for Sikhi.

In roughly 29 years life span, Bhai Chhina did many actions that enlisted his name onto the Sikh martyrs with golden ink. It’s the biographies of such Sikh warriors that will continue to show path of righteousness and give courage to the future Sikh generations. As we write the biography of Bhai Chhina, we struggle to find words to express his high and pure lifestyle. Bhai Chhina was very calm and at the same time he would be very serious. Even the enemy would praise the personality of Bhai Chhina. In the armed struggle for Khalistan, Bhai Chhina was the last Chief General to attain martyrdom.

CHILDHOOD

Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina was on 24th January 1964, from the womb of Mata Bachan Kaur and in the house of Sardar Dalip Singh in the village of Harsha Chhina, district Ajnala Amritsar. Bhai Chhina had 3 brothers Bhai Dilbagh Singh, Bhai Balkar Singh, Bhai Surjit Sigh and 2 sisters Bibi Jagdish Kaur, Bibi Bir Kaur. Due to the family being extremely poor, Bhai Chhina only studied up to 4th class at the government school of his village. Sardar Dalip Singh owned 4 acres of land on which he farmed and provided food for his family, but it was very hard making ends meet.

Bhai Chhina was gifted Sikhi through his family linage and everytime there was a Gurmat Smagam or Nagar Kirtan nearby, he never hesitated in doing Sewa of any sort. Bhai Chhina helped his father in the farms but his mind would always think about getting a well-paid job which could help his family get out of poverty. Then Bhai Chhina started learning embroidery work and he became very skilful in this trade, which helped him earn a sustainable wage. Due to Bhai Chhina’s wage, his family’s struggle against poverty became easier.

IN THE CONGREGATION OF SANT BHINDRANWALE

When 13 Singhs were mercilessly killed by the followers of Narakhdharis on 13th April 1978, Bhai Chhina’s heart was deeply hurt. After this Bhai Chhina came in contact with the 14th leader of Damdami Taksal, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. Bhai Chhina was so touched by the speeches of Sant Ji and his persona, that he dedicated his whole life from here on to the well being of the Sikh nation.

TAKING AMRIT

During the Sikh preaching of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Chhina was blessed with Amrit by the Panj Pyare of Damdami Taksal. From her Bhai Chhina became attached to Gurbani and the attire of the Khalsa. Bhai Chhina would wake up at Amrit Vela and attend the Gurdwara to complete his Nitnem, in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj. This was a daily routine for Bhai Chhina.

DHARAM YUDH MORCHA

When Dharam Yudh Morcha started in protest for the rights of the Sikhs and Punjab, Bhai Chhina took part along with other locals from his village, by giving their voluntary arrests. Bhai Chhina visited Sri Darbar Sahib twice a week, after having bathed in the holy waters of Sri Harimandir Sahib he would go the Manjhi Sahib hall to listen to the speeches of Sant Ji. Bhai Chhina became close the Jhujaru Singhs of Sant Ji’s Jatha and fulfilled every order of Sant Ji.

On 27th February 1984 Parkash Badal teared and burnt the Article 25b of the Indian constitution outside Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib, Delhi. Bhai Chhina also attended this Panthic program set by Akali Dal and SGPC. Bhai Chhina had attended and challenged the injustices of the Indian government after which he was arrested and spent 2 and half months in Tihar Jail. Like this, as Bhai Chhina continued to take part the Sikh struggle once the CRPF soldiers arrested him and was taken to the CRPF HQ where Bhai Chhina was kept on the second floor. The following night Bhai Chhina took the advantage of the dark night and jumped from the second floor and escaped.

ATTACK ON SRI DARBAR SAHIB

In the year of 1984, the Dharam Yudh Morcha was at its peak and every single jail of Punjab was filled with Sikhs who wanted to break the chains of Indian slavery. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale was the life and pride of this struggle, and he wasn’t going to budge even an inch from the demands of the Anandpur Resolution. But on the other side the Akali Dal leaders had given in to the pressure of India, and were holding meetings in Delhi with ministers of Congress party. The Akali Dal were happy with getting only one the demands met so that they could finish the Dharam Yudh Morcha. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale wasn’t allowing this to happen, which left the Akali Dal stuck in their double game.

Dharam Yudh Morcha had built enormous amount of pressure on the Indian government, that the only way out of this for the Indian government was to meet all the demands of Anandpur Resolution. But the Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi didn’t want to be seen as giving into the minorities of her country. Then in the first week of June 1984, the Indian army under the orders of their racist leader attacked Sri Darbar Sahib and bombarded Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, the Jhujaru Singhs and Singhnia held their ground and fought back against the Indian attackers. Before this, on 1st June 1984 when Bhai Kulwant Singh alias Mengha Singh Babbar was shot and attained martyrdom, Bhai Satnam Singh Chhina was with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale at Sri Darbar Sahib.

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale had said, “If the Indian army attacks Sri Darbar Sahib, then we will repeat the history of Chamkaur Di Garri. We will teach these sinners a lesson that will be remembered by their future generations. While we are alive, we will not allow the Indian army to come onto the Parikarma, and we will fight with every breath.” Sant Ji also said, “When the Indian army steps in the complex of Sri Darbar Sahib, the foundation of Khalistan will be laid. You should understand the struggle for Khalistan has started and we will attain the first martyrdoms to strengthen the foundation of Khalistan. You will have to carry on this fight for the Sikh Raj (Khalistan).” To continue this struggle, Sant Ji had sent many Singhs such as Bhai Chhina home from Sri Darbar Sahib.

THE MARTYRDOM OF THE JATHA FROM THE VILLAGE

During the days of the attack Punjab police, Indian army, CRPF and BSF were positioned all over Punjab. Hearing the news of the all-out attack on Sri Darbar Sahib and merciless killings of Sikh pilgrims had Bhai Chhina’s blood boiling and tears of blood flowed from his eyes, he had turned against the Indian government. The words of Sant Ji, “The next battle if the fight for Khalistan!” kept ringing in Bhai Sheena’s ears. That day a Jatha of men and women did Ardas the Gurdwara of Harsha Sheena village and started marching towards Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. Bhai Chhina was not part of this Jatha because he wanted to punish the Indian leaders that sat in their big homes in Delhi, for which he needed training and weapons.

The Jatha of men and women that had started marching towards Sri Darbar Sahib was eventually stopped by the Indian security forces at the bridge of Kamboj village, near Mirankot. Then Indian army blindly opened fire on the Jatha, Bhai Ranjit Singh Billa, Bhai Karnail Singh Dodhi and Mata Puran Kaur were amongst many Sikhs of Harsha Sheena village that attained martyrdom due to this evil act of the Indian army. Many of the survivors of this attack were seriously injured.

CROSSING BORDER

After the attack a rumour spread that Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale was in Pakistan. Bhai Chhina didn’t believe this at all, but still to confirm this he crossed the border into Pakistan from the village of Rania along with 4/5 fellow Jhujaru Singhs on the day of Masia in June 1984. The Pakistani army arrested Bhai Chhina and he was questioned for a month at an army camp. An army officer told Bhai Chhina, “You will now be sent back.” Bhai Sheena replied, “We don’t want to go back. We want to know the truth about Sant Ji. If he attained martyrdom or if he came here (Pakistan).” After this Bhai Chhina was released in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, Bhai Chhina met the chiefs of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan Jathedar Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha and the Babbar Khalsa chief, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar. Bhai Chhina had started taking weapons training under the command of Baba Manochahal. Bhai Chhina had learnt to fire all types of weapons, dismantling and cleaning weapons, making bombs and many tactics of guerrilla warfare.

MEMORIES OF KHALSA RAJ

Living in Pakistan, Bhai Chhina visited Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Panja Sahib as well as the Khalsa fort of Lahore, where once the flag of the Khalsa Raj use to fly high and was known as the capital of Khalsa Raj. But after the passing of Sher-E-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh the British occupied this fort and after 1947, believing the Hindu leaders, the Sikhs lost everything completely. Bhai Sheena also memorised the history of Baba Baghel Singh, Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ramgharia when they had flown the Nishan Sahib of the Khalsa at Delhi’s Lal Qila. Reading about the Sikh history of 18th century, the courage and strength to establish the Sikh Raj was growing within Bhai Chhina.

ARRESTED IN AMRITSAR

Some days after returning from Pakistan, the Indian intelligence agencies arrested Bhai Chhina and Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal from Amritsar and both of these warriors were blindly tortured at the police station. Bhai Chhina and Bhai Tolenangal didn’t give any information to the police and stuck to the same story, that they travelling to Sri Darbar Sahib from the villages.

In the end the Panchayats of both villages reached the police station where Bhai Sheena and Bhai Tolenangal were being interrogated, the police had no choice but to release both Singhs. Soon as they were released, they told the Panchayats to go back to their villages and they themselves started to walk on the path of Khalistan.

FIGHTING IN THE STRUGGLE FOR KHALISTAN

Bhai Chhina stayed in Pakistan for almost 2 years and returned to Punjab in 1986 to continue the next phase of his service to Khalistan. During these days the Sarbat Khalsa’s Panthic Committee on 29th April 1986, announced the declaration of Khalistan from the complex of Sri Darbar Sahib. Jhujaru Singhs including Bhai Chhina upped their gear to progress towards Khalistan.

For sometime Bhai Chhina stayed on the Parikarma of Sri Darbar Sahib, where he met his family. Bhai Chhina’s family asked him to come back home but he replied, “Now I have to fight for the home of Sikhs. And the Guru will look after my house and family.”

Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal had made Bhai Chhina the area commander of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan. Bhai Chhina was given a group of brave Jhujaru Singhs and responsibilities to carry out Jhujaru actions. Bhai Chhina mainly was active the areas of Amritsar, such as Tarn Taran, Bhikhiwind, Jhabbal, Ajnala, Rajasansi, Sohal, Ramdas, Dera Baba Nanak and Batala. Bhai Chhina did the Sewa of his local Gurdwaras such as Gurdwara Singha Shaheeda (Shaheed Baba Bhag Singh Ji) and Gurdwara Guru Ka Bhag. Bhai Chhina had done the Kar Sewa of these Gurdwaras with his hands. This information was given to the Punjab police, that Bhai Chhina and his group were staying at the local Gurdwaras. The police now started raiding different Gurdwaras in the area and later built permanent bases near Gurdwara Singha Shaheeda and Gurdwara Guru Ka Bhag. Bhai Chhina and his Jhujaru brothers fought the Indian security forces here many times and would escape firing bullets.

Bhai Chhina’s group punished many enemies and daily the newspapers printed the list of their Jhujaru actions. The Punjab police created many informants and police cats to capture Bhai Chhina but due to his many disguises this task was impossible for the Indian security forces.

At first Bhai Chhina’s group had 40/50 Jhujaru Singhs, but when he showed his bravery in the battlefield many Sikh youth travelled to Bhai Chhina in large numbers and joined Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan. This Jhujaru group had made it very difficult for the Indian agencies to breath. To fulfil the shortage of weapons, Bhai Chhina would regularly cross the border into Pakistan and arrange weapons for his group.

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan was split in two parts. Some of the Jhujaru Singhs remained with Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and the others made Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha the chief of the second Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan. (It must be mentioned that Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan was split with the consent of both chief generals. This was an important agreement of both Jhujaru Singhs to tackle the internals issues amongst Jhujaru Singhs.) Bhai Chhina was very close to Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha and both Singhs trusted each other. Due to this Bhai Chhina joined Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan under the leadership of Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha. Bhai Chhina was promoted from area commander to Lieutenant General.

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha aligned his Jhujaru group with the Panthic Committee of Dr Sohan Singh and joined Khalistan Commando Force under the command of Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Khalistan Liberation Force under the command of Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Babbar Khalsa International and Sikh Student Federation under the command of Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, who were all working together to progress in the Sikh freedom movement. Bhai Chhina started doing actions jointly with the above Jhujaru leaders. These Sikh warriors had destroyed the security pillars of Indian government. With this united front of the Jhujaru groups, the Sikh struggle gained more strength.

SURROUNDING THE GURDWARA OF TOLENANGAL

In 1986 Bhai Chhina, Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal, Bhai Gurmail Singh Tolenangal, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Kot Ramdas and other Jhujaru Singhs were in the Gurdwara of Tolenangal in the evening to have meeting and plan further Jhujaru actions. All of sudden the Punjab police and CRPF surrounded the Gurdwara. The Jhujaru Singhs had put their weapons in a bag and they didn’t have the time to get to this bag to fight back the Indian security forces.

Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal acted cleverly and ran into the Langar Hall of the Gurdwara, here he opened his hair, spilled Daal on himself and started acting disabled. Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal also grabbed dishes and started banging them together. The CRPF soldiers fell for this act and assumed that Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal was really disabled, hence did not pay much attention to him. Bhai Chhina along with other Jhujaru Singhs were all arrested and the bag of weapons was also found by the police.

As the police started to take Bhai Chhina and his group of Jhujaru Singhs out of the Gurdwara, Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal shouted war cries of ‘Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal’ and ran away. CRPF soldiers started shouting, ‘Grab him, grab him’. In this shouting and confusion, the Punjab police officers who were positioned outside the Gurdwara opened fire upon the CRPF soldiers that were trying to come out of the Gurdwara and from here a battle started amongst the 2 Indian security forces. In this battle, Bhai Chhina pushed the CRPF soldier that held him and managed to escape by jumping the back wall of the Gurdwara. The arrested Jhujaru Singhs and Sikhs that were worshipping at the Gurdwara were all inhumanely tortured.

MEDITATION OF GURBANI

Walking on the path of Sikh struggle, Bhai Chhina did not allow himself to be distracted from his Gurbani, Nitnem and like the ancient Sikh warriors, every action Bhai Chhina did was in accordance to Gurbani. Baba Thakur Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale also told Bhai Chhina to never leave the guidance of Gurbani, and Satguru will always be beside him. Bhai Chhina had unbreakable trust and faith in Gurbani, it was the food for his soul.

Bibi Jasmeet Kaur, the Jhujaru wife of Bhai Chhina told us that he recited his Nitnem (Jap Ji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tav Parsad Savaiye, Choupai Sahib, Anand Sahib, Rehras Sahib, Kirtan Sohila) daily without fail and beside his Nitnem, Bhai Chhina also recited Asa Ki Var, Sukhmani Sahib, Chandi Di Var and Akaal Ustat daily too. Before setting off on a Jhujaru action, Bhai Chhina would most importantly do Ardas to Akaalpurakh asking for strength and blessings, and when Bhai Chhina would return from a successful Jhujaru action, he would thank Akaalpurakh by doing ten Jaap Sahibs and 10 Choupai Sahibs. The Jhujaru Singhs of Bhai Chhina’s group also held the same principles and love for Gurbani.

POWER OF GURBANI

One day near Kherabad village on Mirankot Road, the Punjab police had set up a heavily maned checkpoint. Bhai Chhina recited Chandi Di Var and in the process fearlessly crossed the checkpoint without any hassle. A police officer asked the Thanedar, “Satta Kharku just walked past us, why didn’t we stop him?” when the Thanedar heard this he started shouting, “Where is Satta? Where is Satta?” But by then Bhai Chhina had gotten very far away from the checkpoint, this was the power of Gurbani that no one was able to arrest Bhai Chhina.

POLICE IN THE DISGUISE OF JHUJARU SINGHS

In July 1988 the Punjab police was given the information that Bhai Chhina along with his Jhujaru group would be staying the house of Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh in Tolenangal village today. Before the Jhujaru Singhs reached Tolenangal village, 25/30 police officers disguised as Gursikhs with Gatra Kirpan over their Sikh Bana and big Dumala came to Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal’s house on tractors.

When Mata Surinder Kaur (mother of Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal) opened the door, the disguised police officers said, “We are all from Babbar Khalsa, Bhai Chhina sent us a message to meet here so we have come.” But Mata Surinder Kaur realised that these were no Singhs of Babbar Khalsa and were in fact police officers in disguise. Mata Ji replied, “Neither you come into my house, neither will I let Chhina come inside. I have already lost enough. We can’t make your food anymore, hold your meetings elsewhere.” Police officer said, “Mata you are discriminating towards us because we are of a different Jhujaru group.” Mata Ji tried to close her door, but the disguised police officers pushed through and sat in the foyer of the house ordering Mata Ji to make milk for them. At this point Mata Ji shouted, “Go have your milk elsewhere and die.”

In this time the CRPF jeeps also entered the village and took up positions around the house. Now the Indian security forces inside the house and outside the house were waiting for Bhai Chhina and his group to arrive. The family of Mata Surinder Kaur started to worry that something bad will happen and they could not get the message of police presence to Bhai Chhina. In the darkness of the evening Bhai Chhina, Bhai Kulwant Singh Kanta (village Jagdev Kalan) were walking towards the house and Bhai Shinda Singh Jago was walking 10/15 steps ahead of Bhai Chhina.

DSP Brar who was dressed at a Nihang Singh stood next to the gate of the house, Bhai Shinda Singh Jago thought that was Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal’s father Sardar Lakha Singh who was Nihang Singh. Soon as Bhai Shinda reached the gate DSP Brar grabbed and him and tried to put his hand over Bhai Shinda’s mouth but Bhai Shinda quickly shouted ‘POLICE’ and made both his Jhujaru brothers who were following him aware. Bhai Chhina immediately opened fire and DSP Brar let go of Bhai Shinda to save himself. Bhai Shinda quickly picked up his assault rifle and ran back to Bhai Chhina and fierce battle started between both sides. After a 2-hour battle, all 3 Jhujaru Singh managed to take the advantage to the darkness and escape safely.

The next day angry with not being able to capture any of the Jhujaru Singhs and being made a fool of, the Punjab police arrested Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal’s father Sardar Lakha Singh and brother Bhai Ranjit Singh. Both family members were taken to Sadar police station where they were tortured for 10 days and later sent to jail charged with false cases.

GORENANGAL ENCOUNTER

One day Bhai Chhina along with his Jhujaru group was passing the village of Gorenangal. The Indian security forces surrounded the Singhs from all sides and the SP announced on a speaker, “If you want to live then drop your weapons and surrender yourself.” These Jhujaru Singhs would never surrender, in fact they got happy to see the potential of a real battle. Bhai Chhina challenged the enemy by shouting a war cry of ‘Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal’ and started firing bullets.

A fierce battle took place between the paid soldiers of India and the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, the skies were screaming with the sound of bullets. When Punjab police and CRPF couldn’t progress in this battle and their men were dropping dead, they decided to back off. The Jhujaru Singhs very easily escaped from there and went to their next destination.

BOPARAI ENCOUNTER

Bhai Chhina along with another 10 Jhujaru Singhs were resting at a location in the village of Boparai. An informant had given this information to the police, within a short time these Jhujaru Singhs were surrounded by the Punjab police and CRPF. A fierce battle ensued for almost 8-hours, in which these sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj laid a carpet of Indian soldier bodies.

In this battle 5/6 Jhujaru Singhs also attained martyrdom and remaining Jhujaru Singhs excluding Bhai Chhina managed to break the curfew and escape. Bhai Chhina was in the tip of his right foot. When Bhai Chhina, ran the CRPF opened fire blindly, but Bhai Chhina moved tree to tree and fired back. When all Bhai Chhina’s ammunition reached the end, he laid on the ground and started crawling away from the CRPF soldiers. But there seemed no escape and Bhai Chhina reached a room built in middle of the farms which controlled the water flow to the farms. Bhai Chhina went into this room and saw the heavy presence of the CRPF soldiers outside. Bhai Chhina decided to grab the electric wires and give his martyrdom without being caught alive, but when he grabbed the live wires the electricity had gone in the area.

Bhai Chhina then saw a big pond nearby and he jumped into the pond and covered his head with some plants so that he would not get spotted. The CRPF soldiers had started searching village houses for Bhai Chhina, in some cases the CRPF soldiers bought local villagers to the main street of the village and brutally beat them. From morning, evening had arrived and then the Indian security forces didn’t find anything they left the area. Near the pond in which Bhai Chhina was hiding in, a child was playing with a wheel. Bhai Chhina asked this child, “Is the police still here or not?” The child reply, “Their jeeps are driving out of the village.”

Bhai Chhina came out of the pond and all of his clothes were muddy. Bhai Chhina went into a random house, and the old lady at this house got happy as she saw Bhai Chhina and in joy said, “My Babbar lion son, saviour of my people.” Both sons of this old lady had been beaten till their bones broke by the Indian security forces, but this brave old lady still allowed Bhai Chhina into her house. Bhai Chhina bathed here and changed his clothes before setting off to his next location.

From this incident we learn hoe much the people of Punjab loved Jhujaru Singhs, and would put their lives at risk to save them. These people were ready to face any injustice of the Indian security forces to save Jhujaru Singhs.

THE POLICE HARASSMENT OF THE FAMILY

To capture Jhujaru Singhs the Indian security forces started harassing their families. Bhai Chhina’s family became the victim of this inhumane injustice of the Indian system. The Punjab police would regularly arrest the family members of Bhai Chhina, may they be mother, father, brothers or sisters and take them to various police stations where they faced torture during interrogation. The police officers would mock Bhai Chhina’s mother and say, “Mata tell us where he is, or your whole family will be extinct.”

The unleashed police force also arrested and jailed the uncles of Bhai Chhina as well as friends and other relatives. This wasn’t enough, the police also arrested and harassed the in-laws of Bhai Chhina’s sisters. Bhai Chhina’s uncle Sardar Joginder Singh’s son, Bhai Sukhdev Singh alias Shotta Chhina along with other Sikh of Harsa Chhina such as, Bhai Resham Singh Chhina, Bhai Baljit Singh Khalistani, Bhai Paramjit Singh Pamma and Bhai Tarsem Singh had enough of police brutality and had joined the Sikh freedom movement under the command of Bhai Chhina.

The Punjab police had killed Bhai Chhina’s brother, Bhai Balkar Singh and his wife, and his uncle Sardar Mahinder Singh’s son Bhai Sucha Singh was killed in a staged police encounter near the village of Adliwal. The whole family of Bhai Chhina was going through hell due to the police brutalities but this did not sway Bhai Chhina from his mission. Bhai Chhina remained in high spirits and continued his Jhujaru actions.

FOOLING THE CRPF

A local old man, Baba Bachan Singh told us that one day as he was loading his buffalo trolley with crops, Bhai Chhina came running into his farm as the CRPF soldiers had been chasing him. Bhai Chhina jumped on this trolley and started moving it forward by whipping the buffaloes, as the CRPF got closer they thought that he was an average farmer going about his way and they carried on going past Bhai Chhina.

After this Bhai Chhina came up to Baba Bachan Singh and said, “Bapu may you live long. Today your buffalo trolley came in use for the Sikh struggle.” And like this Bhai Chhina fearlessly and intelligently fooled the CRPF and got away.

BEING DISGUISED AND WALKING PAST THE POLICE

Once Bhai Chhina was staying at a location in the village of Varnali. A well-known informant of the village did his job and told the police, “Today Satta is on his own. You should arrest him.” Under the command of police inspector Dalbir Randhawa police force and CRPF surrounded the whole village. The police raided the location where Bhai Chhina was staying but they did not find him and straight after the Indian security forces started searching houses of the village.

Roughly 3-hours after the Indian security forces stopped searching for Bhai Chhina and asked the informant, “Now tell us where is Satta? Why did you give us false information?” the informant replied, “What you mean where is Satta? It was Satta that was disguised as a milkman and passed you all on a cycle. You didn’t recognise him. And I don’t want to be killed by the hands of Jhujaru Singhs by coming out in the open and pointing him out.”

The police inspector Dalbir Randhawa and his force were left rubbing their hands thinking how they had just allowed one of the most wanted Jhujaru Singhs to slip out of their hands. Bhai Chhina had the capability to come up with a plan or strategy within short space of time.

BHAI SHEENA SAVING A HINDU FAMILY FROM POLICE CATS

Some police cats had kidnapped the 2-year-old child of a Hindu from Harsa Chhina, Ashok Kumar and started to threaten him, “Give us 2 lakh Rupees or we will kill your child.” The Punjab police had created such police cats to dishonour the Jhujaru Singhs by harassing and extorting innocent families no matter if they were Sikhs or Hindu. This was also done to lessen the support for the Jhujaru Singh from the locals.

During these days the Sikhs of Harsa Chhina village had gone to Sri Anandpur Sahib to see Holla Mohalla, where they coincidently met Bhai Chhina. When Bhai Chhina asked about the well being the residents of Harsa Chhina the locals informed him, “Everything is ok but Ashok Kumar’s child had been kidnapped 3 days ago and these kidnappers call themselves Jhujaru Singhs.” Hearing this Bhai Chhina’s face became red with anger and gave Bhai Resham Singh Chhina the responsibility by saying, “Freeing the child by tomorrow is your duty and the child should return home safe and sound at all cost.”

Bhai Resham Singh Chhina immediately reached Harsa Chhina and wrote a message on the Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan letter pad. This message was sent out to the local police cats with the help of Bhai Amrik Singh who was mediator in Harsa Chhina. The message clearly read, “If the child of Ashok Kumar of Harsa Chhina is not with his family by tonight, then all you police cats will be punished in a way that no one has ever heard of.”

This letter eventually reached a well-known police cat in a nearby village and as soon as he opened the letter, his legs were shaking so much that they couldn’t hold his body up. That same evening the police cats dropped the child named Prince off to Gurdwara Singha Shaheeda in Harsa Chhina and begged for mercy from the Jhujaru Singhs of Bhai Chhina’s group. On the other side, soon as Ashok Kumar saw his child alive, he jumped up with happiness and could stop praising the Jhujaru Singhs.

This account of Bhai Chhina’s Jhujaru life was told to us by Ashok Kumar himself who still highly speaks of Bhai Chhina. He told us, “Bhai Chhina had never ever harassed any Hindu of Harsa Chhina and he always protected us and property. Bhai Chhina is like a god to us, what he did for us we can never forget.”

PUNISHING BABBU COMRADE

During the Sikh struggle, many areas of Punjab had the hold of comrades and their ideology. They had been supplied with weapons by the Indian government and had established their own violent gangs to extort locals and kill supporters of Sikh freedom. The Jhujaru Singhs were fighting the Indian government but now the comrades had been added on to the list of enemies. These comrade groups caused friction amongst many Jhujaru Singhs and to some extent played a big part in internal Jhujaru groups killings.

A comrade of Harsa Chhina village by the name of Hardev Babbu, better known as Babbu Comrade felt he was untouchable with backing of Indian security forces. To show his power he abducted a daughter of a Hindu family and raped her in broad daylight in front of people. Even after this inhumane act, he was loved by the Punjab police. When Jhujaru Singhs passed the village, Babbu Comrade would go to his roof and fire a warning shot in attempt to get Jhujaru Singhs surrounded by the Indian security forces and in some cases he would just randomly fire bullets into the sky to feed his ego.

Due to the evil act of Babbu Comrade, the Jhujaru Singhs decided to wipe him off the surface of the world. Then one day Bhai Chhina and Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal surrounded Babbu Comrade at the bridge of Harsa Chhina village. This evil man started shivering soon as he saw his death, but both Jhujaru Singhs calmly said, “Friend, you have weapons, and your allowed to keep many as you want, we won’t say anything but you treat people unfairly and secondly you try to alert the police when Jhujaru Singhs are passing by putting their loves at risk. Now you tell me how you want to deal with this?” The Jhujaru Singhs wanted to give this comrade a chance to change, and if he didn’t the bullet would soon follow. Babbu Comrade fell to his knees and said, “Let’s go to the Gurdwara now and I will swear I will not treat anyone badly, nor will I fire my gun to get Jhujaru Singhs arrested. Please spare me, I will not do anything to you.”

Bhai Chhina took the comrade to the Gurdwara where he swore not to do any injustice upon people. The Jhujaru Singhs allowed Babbu Comrade to walk away unharmed. Now Jhujaru Singhs freely passed the Harsa Chhina village and the comrade had stopped firing bullets into the air.

On 7th December 1987, Jhujaru Singhs including Bhai Chhina were surrounded by the Indian security forces in Harsa Chhina village. Bhai Chhina was accompanied by Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal and Bhai Jagtar Singh Lapoke as he sat beside the river on the outskirts of his village. Sometime later Bhai Chhina went into his village to grab fresh clothes and newly sewn Kachere. Bhai Chhina had just entered the village when he saw the Punjab police jeeps entering from the other side of the village. The police tried to capture Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal and Bhai Jagtar Singh Lapoke but these Jhujaru Singh grabbed their assault rifles and started a battle with Indian security forces.

Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal helped Bhai Jagtar Singh Lapoke escape safely and was stuck himself near the house of Babbu Comrade. The only escape for Bhai Tolenangal was through Babbu Comrade’s house, and thinking that this comrade won’t say anything as they Jhujaru Singhs had spared his life, Bhai Tolenangal saw Babbu Comrade standing with his gun and said, “The police is after me.” Babbu Comrade signalled Bhai Tolenangal to pass through his house to escape. Soon as Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal came in the range, Babbu Comrade shot him and made him a martyr. By then the police and CRPF who were chasing Bhai Tolenangal had also reached the house of the comrade. Babbu Comrade was so full of ego and arrogance that along with his armed goons, he did not allow even the police to pick up the body of Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal, he proudly shouted at the police and said, “I have killed him, you had lost him.”

Then in March 1990, Bhai Chhina and Bhai Resham Singh Chhina with help of Bibi Jasmeet Kaur, the well-educated daughter of DSP Dalbir Randhawa cut Babbu Comrade into pieces with swords and fed them to the abandoned dogs. The head of the comrade was left displayed on the wall of the school and a piece of paper was shoved in his mouth the message, “Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan take the full responsibility of this killing, and this is a warning to other culprits to change their ways or they will meet the same fate.” In the morning when the locals saw the head on Babbu Comrade, they were pleased to know he was no more and there were some anti-Jhujaru Singhs elements that were shaking that this could happen to them.

WHO IS BIBI JASMEET KAUR?

In the Babbu Comrade case, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur was arrested from her workplace, Rehmat Finance Company situated near the bus station of Amritsar. She was sent to jail and after a year when she was bailed, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur did not go home and joined the Sikh freedom movement. She went to Uttar Pardesh (UP) to join Bhai Chhina.

Bibi Jasmeet Kaur was/is a very high-spirited woman and has immense love for the Sikh nation. She had passed MA in English studies. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur was pulled by the honour and purity of character and thinking that Bhai Chhina and his Jhujaru group held and for this reason she freely helped Bhai Chhina with the killing of Babbu Comrade. By being part of this action, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur added her name to the Sikh struggle and had written another account of bravery shown by Sikh women.

Before the attack in June 1984, Bib Jasmeet Kaur had attended many speeches of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwala and during this time she was fortunate to meet Bibi Upkar Kaur, the president of All India Sikh Student Federation Women Wing. When studying in Khalsa College in 1983, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur also became a member of the AISSF unit there. From start she was attached with Sikhi, and even after being the daughter of a senior police officer (DSP Dalbir Randhawa), she still wanted to be a part of Sikh freedom movement. After the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib, she came in contact with Bhai Malkit Singh Ajnala of Khalistan Commando Force.

According to the plan to carry out the assassination of Babbu Comrade, first she learned how to drive a Maruti car and van. Then Bhai Harjit Singh alias Guddi told here when Babbu Comrade went to his farms and when he returned. After getting all the information on 11th March 1990, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur acted like a journalist and went to Harsha Sheena village on a moped. She saw Babbu Comrade coming from far away and she quickly pulled the plug from her moped and acted as if her moped had broken down. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur started to fix her moped, but by then Babbu Comrade had come and said, “What’s happened Madam Ji?” She replied in Hindi, “The moped is not working. I am a reporter from Delhi and have come here to write about the atrocities of the Jhujaru Singhs for our magazine. I’ve also heard the comrades of this area are in great danger, as they killed a well-known comrade, Baldev Singh Mann and there are many more on their list.”

Hearing this Babbu Comrade started telling Bibi Jasmeet Kaur about himself, how he is a comrade too and has been attacked many times also. And she said, “I will write your account and print it in our magazine and you can help me meet other people too.”

Two days later on 13th March 1990, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur met Babbu Comrade again and started interviewing him and then on 14th, 15th, 16th March she met other comrades with Babbu Comrade and interviewed them too. All these days Babbu Comrade had gunmen with him which saved him falling in the mouth of death. But on 17th March 1990, Babbu Comrade left for Jammu without his gunmen and was picking up Bibi Jasmeet Kaur on the way near the Pandori Bridge, Amritsar. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur jumped in the taxi with Babbu Comrade and the car full of Jhujaru Singhs of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan started following them. The Jhujaru Singhs stopped the Babbu Comrade’s taxi near the village of Gumtala. The Jhujaru Singhs let Bibi Jasmeet Kaur get out of the taxi and then abducted Babbu Comrade and took him to a secret location, where Bhai Chhina on 18th March 1990 punished him like Massa Ranghar. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur played a vital part in bringing this comrade to justice and the whole Sikh nation is proud of her.

INDIAN SECURITY FORCES GIVE IN TO THE JHUJARU SINGHS

A top level and egoistic police officer made the stupid mistake of challenging Bhai Chhina, “If Satta Chhina thinks he is brave, then he should show us his bravery by entering his village in broad daylight. We will eliminate his group within 5 minutes.” Bhai Chhina accepted this challenge of the enemy.

The next day on 15th August 1990, Bhai Chhina along with 15/20 Jhujaru Singhs equipped with weapons and ammunition came to the Dana Mandi of Harsa Chhina village at 11am. Bhai Chhina and hid Jhujaru group shouted war cries and fired bullets in the air challenging the Indian security forces for a battle, but the Punjab police and CRPF did everything to avoid entering the battlefield to fight these sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.

Bhai Chhina shouted in a powerful voice, “Oi, Indian murderers if you have the bravery in you then come here now. Come and enter a battle with the sons of the Khalsa Panth. Where are the people who challenged us? Shame on you for taking our mothers and sisters in your gypsies to the police station, where are your gypsies now? Shame on you for killing innocent Sikhs after arresting them from their homes, where are your guns now? Where has your bravery gone now? Where have your charge sheets gone that mocked our elders. Accept our challenge now! You look for us when we are not here, now arrest me I am here. If you have the strength then come to my face.

Bhai Chhina and his Jhujaru group waited in the village for 3 hours, locals from nearby villages came to see these warriors but the butchering Punjab police could not gather the courage to answer their own challenge. Bhai Chhina set up a court and listened to the problems of the locals, after listening to the problems of the people, Bhai Chhina assured them justice will be served. In some cases, Bhai Chhina resolved issues on the same day. Bhai Chhina also assured the Hindu families of his area that they do not need to fear anyone and there is no need for them to leave the area. After all this, Bhai Chhina and his Jhujaru group left the village walking along the river.

JHUJARU GROUP OF BHAI CHHINA BEING ACTIVE IN UTTAR PARDESH (UP)

In 1990, Bhai Chhina went to Uttar Pardesh before this his group was very active in Punjab. In UP, Bhai Chhina and his Jhujaru group became active in Nanak Mata, Pilibhit, Puranpur, Khatima, Budaun, Shahjahanpur and Nainital areas. Now in Bhai Chhina’s Jhujaru group there were almost 200 Jhujaru Singhs. Bhai Chhina mainly travelled by foot, tractor or jeeps. There Bhai Chhina used a jeep of a Subedar, and Maruti car of Sardar Daljit Singh. On the vehicles Bhai Chhina used, they had ‘Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan on Duty’ written on them. The UP police didn’t react to Bhai Chhina’s presence in UP, in fact they saluted Bhai Chhina whenever they saw his vehicles passing them. Even the locals would wave at Bhai Chhina with respect saying, “The Khalsa army is passing.”

The CRPF that were based in UP, they would go village to village and ask the locals, “Where is Satta Chhina?” and the locals would proudly say, “He’s in the next village.” Hearing that the CRPF would go in the opposite direction to avoid seeing Bhai Chhina. The people of UP would always be ready to prepare food for the Jhujaru Singhs of Bhai Chhina. Whichever house Bhai Sheena’s Jhujaru group visited, they owner was given money for groceries.

ANAND KARAJ

On 19th May 1991 Bhai Chhina’s Anand Karaj was done with Bibi Jasmeet Kaur at Gurdwara Dudh Wali Khuhi, Nanak Mata. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur gave birth to 2 sons, Bhai Naunihal Singh and Bhai Ranjodh Singh. When Bibi Jasmeet Kaur gave birth to her first child in a hospital of Ludhiana, Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran and his family was given the responsibility of Bibi Jasmeet Kaur during this period as Bhai Chhina was active in the Uttar Pardesh area. Some days after the birth of the child, Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran made arrangements for her to go Uttar Pardesh.

Bhai Chhandran made Bibi Jasmeet Kaur his Jhujaru sister and when setting her off, Bhai Chhandran gave her 5,000 Rupees and revolver as Shagan. From this we can see how much love the Jhujaru Singhs had for weapons, and at the time of happiness and loss they gifted each other weapons. Weapons were more valuable than their lives for Jhujaru Singhs. It was the gifted revolver that saved the life of Bibi Jasmeet Kaur once as she travelled on a bus in UP. The police had spotted her and Bibi Jasmeet Kaur fought a battle with the revolver and made her escape.

CHIEF GENERAL OF BHINDRANWALA TIGERS FORCE OF KHALISTAN

When on 3rd November 1990 Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sangha attained martyrdom, Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran was made the chief general and Bhai Chhina was given the rank of deputy chief of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan. Then sometime later Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran also attained martyrdom on 12th June 1992, then all the Jhujaru Singhs of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan chose Bhai Chhina as the next chief general.

SP FROM UP GIFTED BHAI CHHINA A WEAPON

A SP of Uttar Pardesh police spoke to Sardar Tarsem Singh of Nanak Mata and asked him, “I would like to meet Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina, can you somehow make that happen?” From there Sardar Tarsem Singh spoke to Bhai Chhina, who replied, “First thing is, I don’t meet police officers. And if they want to meet then what will they gift me? What will they present as a gift to the Khalsa?” Sardar Tarsem Singh said, “You tell me, what would you want?” Then Bhai Sheena smiled and answered, “He should gift us weapons, weapons that could be useful to us in battles.”

The SP gifted Bhai Chhina 5 rifles and met him. In this open meeting, many point-of views were discussed. SP stressed the point, “You don’t attack us (UP police) and we will not attack you. You also do good service to the community and we also do that. You do your actions according to your plans and we will try to help you wherever we can.”

Bhai Chhina replied, “You know very well about our intentions, the Khalsa will never target someone without a legitimate reason. We don’t fear no one nor do we want to scare anyone. The Khalsa’s fight is against injustice and people who commit injustice, whoever that is. If Khalsa makes his mind up on something than he will not rest till that task is completed.”

The SP was at peace after meeting Bhai Chhina as he had realised that the Jhujaru group of Bhai Chhina never would target weak and the innocent. That these Jhujaru Singhs only used their bullets on culprits or wrong doers. The battle of the Jhujaru Singhs was against a system and people which want to kill Sikhi and Sikhs.

AVENGING THE MARTYRDOM OF SINGHS

In the year 1992, the UP police stopped a bus and killed 10 Sikhs that were travelling on this bus. To avenge the killing of innocent Sikhs, Bhai Chhina attacked many police station and used bombs to blow up police jeeps in which many police officers were killed. Bhai Chhina said it loud and clear, “It was very important to teach these killers a lesson or else they would kill more of our Sikhs. Today they have killed 10, tomorrow they will kill 50. So, this attack on police stations and their jeeps is a lesson for UP police.”

In these bomb attacks on police jeeps, one police officer had survived. Bhai Chhina told him, “Go and tell your senior officers, who did this attack and also tell them that they took the first step by killing our people and it after that our enmity has started.”

While living in UP, Bhai Chhina preached Sikhi and Gur-Ithias as well as doing Jhujaru actions. Bhai Chhina held Amrit Sanchars and helped the needy and the weak. Meanwhile in Punjab the chief generals of Khalistan movement were attaining martyrdom and the Sikh struggle seemed as it was reaching its end. But in UP, Bhai Chhina was trying to keep the Sikh struggle strong and progressing. Bhai Chhina controlled much of the movement from UP, and when needed he would send Jhujaru Singhs to do actions in Punjab.

The Indian security forces were searching every spot of Uttar Pardesh to capture Bhai Chhina, the police had found many of his hideouts. But Bhai Chhina kept moving from UP to Punjab to Haryana, sometimes Rajasthan and sometimes Jammu Kashmir. Bhai Chhina also had a great brotherly relationship with the Mujahedeen of Kashmir, who would also supply weapons to Jhujaru Singhs. Some fellow Jhujaru Singhs advised Bhai Chhina to go Pakistan as that was safer, but Bhai Chhina wanted to stay in Punjab and rebuild the armed movement for Khalistan.

MARTYRDOM

Bhai Chhina had left some money (roughly 3 lakh Rupees) with trusted person, Jathedar Bir Singh and when Bhai Chhina returned from UP to Punjab and met Jathedar Bir Singh, he told Bhai Chhina, “Times have now changed.” Bhai Chhina replied, “Jathedara, you were like my brother and now your talking like that.” His reply was, “I am not your brother anymore.” Bhai Chhina was disappointed and said, “Okay no problem. If you don’t want to give me place to stay then don’t, but I need the Jathebandi’s money as I need it to fuel the movement.” Bir Singh replied, “Come next week and take your money I will have it ready for you.”

The following week Bhai Chhina returned to Bir Singh’s house, but Bir Singh and his wife, Ranjit Kaur fell in the trap of greed over money. They had their house surrounded by Indian security forces that wanted to capture Bhai Chhina. Soon as Bhai Chhina reached Bir Singh’s house the Indian security forces opened fire but Bhai Chhina fired back and managed to escape. After this Bhai Chhina reached the village of Tolenangal where he met the brother of Shaheed Bhai Kuldeep Singh Tolenangal, Bhai Ranjit Singh and told him, “Jathedar has betrayed us over money.” Bhai Ranjit Singh said, “Don’t go to Bir Singh’s house for money anymore. Forget that money, we will arrange money from some other way.”

During these days, money could not be arranged from anywhere. The chief generals of Sikh struggle, Jathedar Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Jathedar Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal had attained martyrdom, and the police had made many Jhujaru Singhs martyrs, the Sikh struggle was becoming weak. Times had come where Bhai Chhina had to travel on cycle for 25/30 kilometres.

Then on 21st November 1993, Bhai Chhina once again went to Bir Singh’s house and told him to return the Jathebandi’s money. Seeing Bhai Chhina, Bir Singh started begging for forgiveness and said, “It wasn’t me who called the police that day, you’re like my brother. Because of you the police have continuously harassed me.” Bhai Chhina replied, “What was going to happen, has happened. Now just return the money and I will go.” Bir Singh said, “I don’t have the money on me today, I’ll return half of the money tomorrow.”

The fearless warrior, Bhai Chhina stayed at Bir Singh’s house that night. Once a traitor always a traitor, Bir Singh somehow sent a message to the police that Bhai Chhina was staying at his house. In the evening, Bhai Chhina went to the water tubal to bath and wash his hair. The Punjab police and CRPF under the command of DSP Darshan Mann laid down in trolley of a tractor and drove towards Bhai Chhina. As the enemy got close to the unarmed Bhai Chhina, they pounced on him and arrested him.

According to the information we were given, the news of Bhai Chhina’s arrest was given to KPS Gill and upon hearing this news KPS Gill jumped up in joy. Bhai Chhina was then quickly taken to Chandigarh from Amritsar by plane, where KPS Gill blindly tortured Bhai Chhina and broke his bones and joints. Being a fearless warrior and the filled with the power of Gurbani, Bhai Chhina didn’t say a single word that would further damage the Sikh struggle or fellow Jhujaru Singhs/ Singhnia. In the end, Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina, the chief general of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan attained martyrdom in police custody on the night of 24th – 25th November 1993.

THE LIES OF THE POLICE

On 24th November 1993 the Ajit newspaper printed a news about Bhai Satnam Singh Chhina’s arrest on their front page with the headline,

BHAI SATNAM SINGH CHHINA ARRESTED?

Dangerous Kharku and the chief general of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina was arrested from the village of Nagar by senior police officers and undercover officers. The police officials are yet to confirm this arrest, but we have been given this information by a reliable source that Bhai Chhina was arrested from the village of Nagar which falls under the Gharinda police station, as Bhai Chhina was planning to cross the border into Pakistan. We were told the police operation was being commanded by DSP of Majitha, Darshan Mann.

After Ajit newspaper printed the news of Bhai Chhina’s arrest, the following day on 25th November 1993 the police held a press conference in which they announced that Bhai Chhina had attained martyrdom in a fierce battle with the Indian security forces. Then on 26th November 1993, the front pages of a newspapers reported Bhai Chhina’s martyrdom and during this time the Punjab police were cashing in on this by saying that this was their greatest achievement. News report from Chandigarh stated,

The Punjab police has held a press conference and said that they have killed another dangerous Kharku, Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina in a fierce battle with the Amritsar district. There was 20 lakh Rupees reward on Bhai Chhina’s head. KPS Gill held an immediate press conference in Chandigarh this morning (25th November 1993) in which he made the announcement of the achievement of his police force. He announced that Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina was killed at police checkpoint in the village of Khyala which falls under the Lapoke police station at 3 o’clock this morning. A battle started when he deserted his Maruti car and went into the farms.

 

KPS Gill had awarded DSP Darshan Mann with the rank of SP at the above press conference for his role in capturing Bhai Chhina. When the journalists asked KPS Gill, “You claim to have killed Bhai Sheena in the early hours of today, but Ajit newspaper had already reported his arrest on 24th November 1993.” KPS Gill replied, “The Kharku normally get such news reports printed when they loose contact with their fellow Kharku.”

KPS Gill also said, “For some time Satta Chhina was active in the Trai area of Uttar Pardesh and responsible for more than 500 murders. From his Maruti car the police found 1x machine gun, 1x rocket launcher, 4x rockets, 2x AK47 assault rifles, 1x stengun, 1x 303 rifle, 2x pistols, 4x grenades, 18kg of explosives and 10x detonators. But when these weapons were displayed to the journalists, the weapons seemed very rusty and worn out.

According to KPS Gill, “Satta Chhina was linked to the Kharku Singhs of Pakistan and also the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and in these, days he had come to Punjab to recruit more Kharku Singhs. After his death, there are no more prominent Kharku groups active in Uttar Pardesh.” The police chief of Majitha, Paramjit Gill said, “For the past 6 months various police forces were searching for Bhai Chhina in Punjab as well as Uttar Pardesh. Bhai Chhina was seen few days ago at a religious place from where he managed to escape.” A newspaper article from Amritsar reported the arrest of Bhai Chhina like this,

According to police officials there are 9 prominent Jhujaru Singhs that are wanted, Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina was one of them. For the past 5 years he was active first in the Punjab area then later in the Trai area of Uttar Pardesh. Police said that they were given the information of Bhai Chhina being in this area and for this reason they had set up checkpoint around the Khyala Kalan area. After midnight a Maruti car was seen coming towards one of the checkpoints, the police signalled the car to stop. There was only one man in the car and he started firing towards the police and deserted the car and ran into the farms. The police also returned fire. Roughly after 2-hours of fierce exchange of firing and body was found who was later identified as Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina.

After news of Bhai Chhina’s martyrdom came out, Ajit newspaper assembled a team same day which visited the site of the encounter in which the Punjab police killed Bhai Chhina. On the Amritsar/ Chogwan Road, just after Ram Tirath is Link Road which takes us to Khyala, there are many shops situated on this road and when the team asked the shopkeepers where the location of the encounter is, they had replied, “We don’t know anything about any encounter, but today we saw 5/7 police officers wondering about in the morning.” According to the police, the location of the encounter was the farms next a small bridge in-between the houses of Pritam Singh Nihang and Joginder Singhs. The Ajit newspaper team and their photographer eventually found this location of the alleged encounter, even with careful searching for any signs of an encounter, if any, the team found nothing. No bullets shells, no bullet damage, no blood drops, no footsteps nor any marks on the ground of anyone or a body being dragged.

It is also said by Indian secret agencies that in September 1993, Bhai Chhina met 2 ISI officers in Delhi. This meeting was arranged by the 30-year-old widow of Shaheed Bhai Roshan Lal Beragi, Bibi Navpreet Singh Baby, who had regular contact with Jhujaru Singhs in Pakistan via telephone. Here Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu had spoken to Bhai Chhina and assured him that a shipment of weapons will be sent to him. Shortly after the police arrested Bibi Navpreet Kaur Baby. Bhai Chhina also had meeting scheduled for 5th December 1993 in Pathankot with the Kharkus of Kashmir, but this Bhai Chhina had attained martyrdom by then.

The locals of Uttar Pardesh also told Bibi Jasmeet Kaur that Bhai Chhina was bought to UP in Punjab police helicopter on 2nd December 1993, and at this time Bhai Chhina seemed very weak. Bhai Chhina’s legs and arms seemed broken and the police officers were dragging him and asking him where the weapons stash are, but Bhai Chhina was mostly unconscious.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

A reliable source tells the truth, Bhai Satnam Singh Satta Chhina was arrested by DSP Darshan Mann’s team on 21st November 1993 in the village of Nagar and the warrior was straight away taken to Chandigarh, where he was tortured for 3 days. KPS Gill made Bhai Chhina a martyr on 24th November and the following day, 25th November 1993 KPS Gill held a press conference in which he to the journalists a made up story of Bhai Chhina being killed an encounter in the village of Khyala Kalan and following this the newspapers printed the news of Bhai Chhina’s martyrdom on 26th November.

BROTHER OF BHAI CHHINA HARASSED BY POLICE

Bhai Surjit Singh the brother of Bhai Chhina was jailed for 2 years illegally by the Punjab police. It was 4 months after the martyrdom of Bhai Chhina he was released. During this time the Punjab police chief KPS Gill and his accomplice SP Shukla blindly tortured Bhai Surjit Singh in small room of BR Model School, Amritsar. This school was basically a butcher house for Punjab police.

SON OF BHAI SHEENA ALSO VICTIM OF POLICE BRUTALITY

During the Jhujaru life of Bhai Chhina, his family faced many difficulties at the hand of the Punjab police. To avoid brutalities of the Punjab police, Bhai Chhina was moving around, sometimes Bibi Jasmeet Kaur would be somewhere else and his children would be elsewhere. The son of Bhai Chhina, Bhai Ranjodh Singh met his mother Bibi Jasmeet Kaur after 3 years. Bhai Ranjodh Singh an infant stayed in the village of Shaddan, with Bibi Ranjit Kaur and when the police found out they quickly to the child into custody. Bhai Ranjodh was kept at different police station as an infant and during this time one of his legs fell victim to polio. Even after the martyrdom of Bhai Chhina, the Punjab police did not leave his family alone. Bibi Jasmeet Kaur was arrested in 1995 and locked up behind bars for a long period under India’s TADA Act.

IMPORTANCE OF BHAI CHHINA WITHIN THE KHALISTAN MOVEMENT

Shaheed Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina attained martyrdom in the Sikh struggle but during his Jhujaru life, he never drifted from his Sikh principles and values. This warrior lived his life like a true Sikh, and freshened the memory of ancient Sikh warriors. Bhai Chhina had joined the Sikh struggle at a very young age, once he left his house he never came back and to establish the home of the Sikhs (Khalistan) he fought against the oppressing Indian government. Bhai Chhina thought of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale as more than just a Sikh saint, he was a like a messiah and Bhai Chhina stood strong on every word that was said by Sant Ji. Bhai Chhina was well focussed on establishing the Sikh Raj and no enemy or any act of the enemy could sway him from this mission. Khalistan was within Bhai Chhina’s blood and for it, he was ready to give any sacrifice.

Bhai Chhina encouraged many Sikh youths in different parts of India to take part in the Sikh struggle, and fulfilled an important role in making the movement for Khalistan grow and prosper. The Indian security forces would be scared when they heard Bhai Chhina’s name, even though he had no army, no base, no tanks or cannons, Bhai Chhina had no heavy artillery. But Bhai Chhina gathered the common people from the villages and together shook the Hindu throne of Delhi and punished many anti-elements.

Bhai Chhina was knowledgeable on the guerrilla warfare. Indian governments fear could be measured by the news reports of Bhai Chhina on newspapers and TV. The villages of Punjab would sing praises of Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan. Bhai Chhina was from a small village and from a poor family, he went on to become a hero of the Sikh nation. As well as being fearless warrior Bhai Chhina was also a true saint. Bhai Chhina wasn’t very tall nor very well built, but like Bhai Bachittar Singh he too was full of strength.

Bhai Chhina never targeted the weak or the innocent, and anyone who attacked Sikhi or Sikhs, Bhai Chhina asked them to change their ways and only if they didn’t change, he punished them. Bhai Chhina was also an active social reformer as well as soldier of Khalistan, he paid for many marriages of girls from unprivileged families may they be Sikh, Hindu or of any other faith. Bhai Chhina remained an important and crucial part of the Sikh struggle. It also can be said that Bhai Chhina was the last fort of the Khalistan empire. Wherever Bhai Chhina stayed, the people there still remember his warming memories. Shaheed Bhai Satnam Singh alias Satta Chhina will always shine bright like a star within the Sikh history.

 

Tavareekh Shaheed-e-Khalistan – Bhai Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal