Shaheed Bhai Satpal Singh Valtoha

 

Bhai Satpal Singh was born in the year 1966 to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Sarabjit Kaur and father, Jathedar Sardar Dalbir Singh in the village of Valtoha, Patti, district Tarn Taran. Bhai Satpal Singh studied up to degree level and passed his BA. Following the attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib complex in June 1984, the armed movement had begun. Many young Sikh men from the village of Valtoha had joined various Jhujaru groups to fight for freedom and Khalistan.

 

It had become the malicious aim of the Punjab police to pick up any young Sikh male who was fully bearded or a practicing Sikh, and throw them in jails or kill them in false encounters. In this manner, Bhai Satpal Singh was arrested during the year 1986 and was charged under a number of false charges and fabricated cases. He had to spend a whole year in Amritsar jail. After his release, his family arranged his marriage to Bibi Parjinder Kaur and the couple were blessed with two children, Ratinderpreet Kaur and Ranjot Singh. Bhai Satpal Singh worked in agriculture and ran his family business in farming and cultivating their land. They earned a good living and sustained a comfortable life.

 

One day, Bhai Satpal Singh went to a nearby village Sehron, to do some business when suddenly the police came and arrested him. He was mercilessly tortured for up to five days. After which, on 23rd July 1991, the police then took him to a nearby village Kabarwala and killed him along with two other unknown Singhs in a fake encounter. News reports the following day, presented a completely false narrative allowing the police to lie about what really happened. The newspapers stated that three unknown persons drove up towards a police checkpoint where they were asked to stop but instead took out firearms and began shooting towards the policemen. In return, the police fired back and all three terrorists were killed. This was a callous attempt to hide the truth and malign thousands of young innocent Sikh males who were killed in fake encounters.

 

Bhai Satpal Singh’s family got to know of his Shaheedi from the story in the newspaper. The police did not even allow for the body to be returned to the family. It was cremated at an undisclosed location. Three months after his Shaheedi, his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Ranjot Singh.

 

The Khalistan Liberation Force condoned this killing and held a private meeting on 2nd August 1991. Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, Bhai Tasbeer Singh Jhander, Bhai Nishan Singh Makhu, Bhai Palwinder Singh Sona and Bhai Navroop Singh Dhotian were present in this meeting. A press notice was issued following this meeting, where the collective Singhs had stated the police does not have the right to pick up innocent young Sikh males and kill them without reason. Bhai Bhupinder Singh Canadian, Bhai Davinder Singh Pappu, Bhai Jassa Singh Bhuri Wale, Bhai Jasbir Singh Thanda, Bhai Mehtab Singh Bhangu and Bhai Satpal Singh were all given a special mention and words of honour were written in their remembrance for the sacrifice. A Sri Akhand Paath Sahib was held for Bhai Satpal Singh, for his final prayers on 1st August 1991 in the village of Valtoha, which was attended by many to honour him.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Satpal Singh Valtoha