Shaheed Bhai Shameer Singh alias Bapu Khande Wala

Khalistan Liberation Force

 

Bhai Shameer Singh was married to Bibi Gurmej Kaur. The couple was blessed with a son, Bhai Lakha Singh. The family resided in the village of Dubli, in the Patti district, sustaining themselves through agriculture on their own twenty-acre farm. Bhai Lakha Singh later married Bibi Gurdeep Kaur, and together they were blessed with two sons – Manjit Singh and Gurjeet Singh. The entire family were devout Gursikhs, all of whom had received Amrit.

 

Following the assault on Sri Harmandir Sahib in June 1984 by the Indian state, Punjab witnessed the eruption of an armed struggle. Sikhs took up guerrilla warfare to avenge this sacrilege, transforming the resistance into a battle against the government that had sanctioned and enabled the attack. Bhai Shameer Singh wholeheartedly supported the movement. He was already well known among prominent Jhujaru Singhs of the time and shared close bonds with Shaheed Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar (Dasuwal) and Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma. His home, situated on the outskirts of the village was strategically ideal, making it difficult for CRPF forces to access. Many Jhujaru Singhs passed through, using it as a safe resting point. Bhai Shameer Singh and his family served them hot meals and offered shelter. Wise and practical, Bhai Shameer Singh was deeply respected for his intelligence and resourcefulness. Jhujaru Singhs relied on him for support during the movement. Families like his were the backbone of the struggle. Without such homes acting as sanctuaries and without their generosity in feeding and sheltering Jhujaru Singhs while monitoring local developments, the movement could not have progressed as much as it did. Later, the police began terrorising these families or attempting to bribe them with large sums, leading to betrayals and informants.

 

Eventually, the police discovered Bhai Shameer Singh’s role in aiding Jhujaru Singhs. However, due to the heavy presence of Jhujaru Singhs near his home, they initially feared to act. By 1988, the armed movement had controlled Punjab for nearly four years. In desperation, the government infiltrated Jhujaru Jathebandis, targeting and eliminating many prominent figures, including Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma. During the Mand Operation, the police intensified harassment of families like Bhai Shameer Singh’s, repeatedly raiding his home and brutally torturing him and his son during interrogations.

 

By late 1988, Jhujaru Singhs had gained dominance across Punjab, rendering even the police vulnerable. In retaliation, the police occupied Bhai Shameer Singh’s house for several months, using it as a base for their own safety. Bhai Lakha Singh joined the Khalistan Liberation Force, serving alongside Bhai Tasbeer Singh Jhander (Ajnala), Bhai Anar Singh Para and others. Despite numerous attempts, the police failed to capture him. Forced underground due to the occupation of his home, Bhai Lakha Singh dedicated his life to the establishment of Khalistan. In 1990, the police tracked him down and killed him in a staged encounter, granting him Shaheedi. By then, Bhai Shameer Singh was around ninety years old. Even at this age, he continued to support Jhujaru Singhs and remained underground.

 

By 1992, the movement had reached its peak, but government infiltration led to the martyrdom of many prominent Jhujaru Singhs and Jathedars. In his final years, Bhai Shameer Singh was persuaded by villagers to return home and inform the police, hoping for peace. However, the harassment continued. The police abducted him and subjected him to brutal torture. Imagine a ninety-year-old man enduring the same horrific methods inflicted on younger Jhujaru Singhs. Despite this, Bhai Shameer Singh remained steadfast, refusing to divulge any information. He was tortured to death, attaining Shaheedi, and his body was discarded in the Harike River.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Shameer Singh alias Bapu Khande Wala