Shaheed Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka

Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan

 

Village Gadli, located in the Amritsar district near Jandiala Guru, holds a place of great respect among Sikhs. This village has contributed significantly to the Khalistan movement, producing more than six Kharku martyrs, including Shaheed Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, the assassin of General Arun Shridhar Vaidya, the Army Chief during Operation Blue Star. Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka, was another proud son of village Gadli and a member of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan.

 

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka hailed from Village Gadli (District Amritsar) but was born around 1964 in Budge Budge Ghat near Kolkata, West Bengal, in the home of Sardar Mohan Singh and Mata Daljit Kaur. At the time of his birth, Bhai Sukhjit Singh’s father worked as a bus driver in Kolkata. Bhai Sahib was one of five siblings, having two brothers and two sisters, and he was the fourth among them. Bhai Sahib received his middle school education in his native village, Gadli, and completed his secondary education (up to matriculation) at a school in the nearby village of Dasmesh Nagar. After finishing his matriculation, he took up the family profession of farming. At one point, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka attempted to enlist in the Army. He passed all the required tests but was ultimately rejected when a high bribe was demanded for the position. Staying true to his principles, Bhai Sahib refused to pay the bribe and declined the opportunity to join the army.

 

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka received Amrit at an early age and regularly recited Gurbani during his spare time. His dedication to Sikhi was evident in his personality, and the radiant glow of his faith was visible on his face, earning him respect and admiration from all who knew him. Bhai Sahib came from a devout Gursikh family, with both of his parents also being Amritdhari. In his early years, Bhai Sukhjit Singh frequently visited Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar with his mother and other family members. Sri Darbar Sahib was only about 16 miles from their village. During the Dharam Yudh Morcha, he regularly attended the speeches at Sri Darbar Sahib, often accompanied by Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, who was both his relative and from the same village. Bhai Sukhjit Singh was deeply inspired by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale’s speeches and would often share Sant Ji’s words with his mother. Bhai Sahib’s mother never discouraged him from engaging in the Sikhi cause, feeling immense pride that her son was walking the Guru’s path. Even after Bhai Sahib attained martyrdom, she remained grateful, always thanking Guru Sahib for accepting her son into his court.

 

In the first week of June 1984, the Indian government launched an attack on Sri Darbar Sahib, along with 40 other Sikh shrines, martyring hundreds of Sikhs. Upon receiving news of the army’s assault, the youth of Village Gadli, including Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka, left their homes in search of ways to avenge the attack. On 6th June 1984, after hearing the full details of the army’s invasion, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka, alongside Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, left his home. While Bhai Jinda later went to Delhi to his sister Mata Mahinder Kaur’s home (mother of Shaheed Bhai Surjit Singh Painta), Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka stayed in the village and began establishing contacts with Jhujaru Singhs for future resistance efforts.

 

A few months later, Bhai Surjit Singh Painta, along with his siblings, returned to their native village Chajjalwaddi from Delhi following the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. His parents were arrested by the Delhi CBI in connection with Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda’s case. Bhai Surjit Singh Penta joined the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan under the leadership of Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. Since village Gadli was Bhai Penta’s maternal ancestral village, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka had the opportunity to discuss his desire to join the Kharku movement and serve the Sikh Panth. Soon after, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka joined BTFK under the leadership of Bhai Surjit Singh Penta, along with Bhai Surjit Singh Gadli from his village. Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka had the honour of serving alongside legendary Jhujaru leaders such as Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Surjit Singh Penta, Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, Bhai Surjit Singh Gadli, Bhai Chainchal Singh Udhoke, Bhai Avtar Singh Patwari (Tarn Taran), Bhai Kabal Singh Bhullar Hans, Bhai Pargat Singh Talwandi Behram, Bhai Jaspal Singh Bhatti Nangli, Bhai Harcharan Singh Giani, and many more.

 

In May 1988, Sri Darbar Sahib, the spiritual centre of the Sikhs, became a stronghold for several Jhujaru groups as they continued the fight for Sikh rights and sovereignty. This Jhujaru presence was seen as a continuation of the Dharam Yudh Morcha and echoed the spirit of the historic Misl Era, where Sikh warriors would operate from sacred spaces. For months, Jhujaru Singhs had established their base in the surrounding buildings of the Sri Darbar Sahib complex, allowing them to maintain direct connections with the global Sikh diaspora. This connection not only boosted morale but also brought in substantial financial and logistical support. Sikhs from across Punjab and beyond visited Sri Darbar Sahib to receive guidance and aid from the Jhujaru Singhs, who had become a beacon of hope for those suffering under government repression and police brutality. Jhujaru Singhs helped common people in navigating issues such as police harassment, land disputes, and other social injustices, providing a form of grassroots justice that the state had failed to offer.

 

Room number 14, located within the Sri Darbar Sahib complex, was designated as the “Khalistan Headquarters Office.” It symbolized the deep bond between the Jhujaru Singhs and the broader Sikh community, serving as a hub for organizing, strategizing, and meeting with the Sangat. This growing connection between Jhujaru Singhs and Sikhs worldwide unsettled the Indian government, which feared the rising influence of the pro-Khalistan movement. In response, the government launched a media campaign, enlisting major outlets like India Today and Hind Samachar to circulate false narratives and propaganda. These reports painted the Sikh freedom fighters as violent extremists, aiming to alienate them from the Sikh community and discredit their cause on the national and international stage.

 

In early May 1988, the government initiated a military operation named, Operation Black Thunder 2, designed to eliminate the Jhujaru Singh presence at Sri Darbar Sahib. The Punjab Police, aided by Black Cat commandos, laid siege to the complex, surrounding it for several days in a tense standoff. Unlike the violent attack of June 1984, this time the operation was conducted with more restraint, avoiding heavy artillery, likely due to concerns about international backlash. Under immense pressure, and recognizing that surrender was the only way to uphold their moral dignity, the Jhujaru Singhs chose to give themselves up, agreeing to face the judicial system rather than see more bloodshed in the holy complex. Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka was among those arrested during this operation. His fellow Jhujaru brothers, including Bhai Surjit Singh Painta, Bhai Karaj Singh Thande, Bhai Dilbagh Singh Bagha, and Bhai Jagir Singh (the spokesperson of the Panthic Committee), attained martyrdom, giving their lives for the Sikh cause. Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka, alongside the other Jhujaru Singhs, were charged with treason and war crimes by the Indian government. These charges were designed to break their spirit, labelling them as criminals in the eyes of the law, despite their fight being one of resistance against tyranny. Bhai Sukhjit Singh was imprisoned in Gumtala Jail, Amritsar, where he, like many others, endured harsh conditions and attempts by authorities to weaken their resolve.

 

Despite the hardships of imprisonment, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka remained unwavering in his commitment to the Sikh cause. His release in mid-1991 was not the end of his struggle but a testament to his resilience and the larger struggle for Khalistan, which persisted despite the odds. Bhai Sahib, though freed, returned to a landscape still embroiled in conflict, with his mission far from over.

 

After his release from prison, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka attempted to live quietly at home, striving to evade police scrutiny while continuing his dedication to the Jhujaru Singhs of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan. However, in the middle of September 1991, Police officials visited his home, claiming they needed to conduct a brief investigation regarding an unspecified matter. They assured his family that he would be released shortly after the questioning at the police station. Trusting their words, Bhai Sukhjit Singh’s family reluctantly allowed him to leave, unaware of the impending tragedy.

 

In the days that followed, the family received no information or updates about his whereabouts, and the police denied any involvement in his arrest. The silence from the authorities added to their growing anxiety, transforming hope into despair. On the morning of 23rd September 1991, Bhai Sukhjit Singh’s family was devastated to read the news of his martyrdom in the local newspaper. The report revealed that last night on 22nd September 1991, the prominent Jhujaru Singh had been killed in a police ambush near the canal bridge of village Dhaliwal, located in Tehsil Baba Bakala of District Amritsar.

 

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka was yet another victim of a fake encounter, a tragic fate that befell many Sikh youths in Punjab during this period. The police’s actions were emblematic of a broader campaign of oppression aimed at silencing dissent and eliminating those who fought for Sikh rights and justice. Disturbingly, despite the circumstances surrounding his martyrdom, the authorities refused to return Bhai Sukhjit Singh’s body to his family, compounding their sorrow and sense of injustice. This callous disregard for human dignity reflected a harsh reality faced by many families of martyrs during this era, leaving them with unresolved grief and a profound sense of loss.

 

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka’s martyrdom on that fateful night stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by countless Sikhs in the struggle for Khalistan. His legacy, like those of many others, is etched in the hearts of the Sikh community, inspiring future generations to remember and honour the fight for justice and freedom.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kaka