Shaheed Bhai Surjit Singh Kala Valtoha

 

Bhai Surjit Singh was born in the year 1971 to the blessed womb of mother, Mata Darshan Kaur and father, Jathedar Sardar Harbhajan Singh in the village of Valtoha, Patti, district Tarn Taran. Bhai Surjit Singh was the eldest of four children, with two younger brothers Bhai Raghbir Singh, Bhai Dalbir Singh and a younger sister, Bibi Ranjit Kaur. He studied up until 12th grade and then joined his father to work in agriculture and farm their family-owned land.

 

Living in the village of Valtoha, the Jhujaru Singhs regularly blessed Bhai Sahib’s home with regular visits and the family served food and place to rest. The police came to know of this and began patrolling and raiding the family home. They even picked Bhai Surjit Singh many times and released by the help of his villagers.

 

Bhai Surjit Singh’s uncle was also a well-known Jhujaru Singh, Bhai Surinder Singh Shinda. On the day of his sister’s wedding 17th October 1993, Bhai Surinder Singh Shinda and his fellow Jhujaru Singhs attended to give their blessings. The police caught wind of this and that very night surrounded Bhai Surjit Singh’s home. The Indian security forces under the command of butcher officer Seeta Ram, arrested Bhai Surjit Singh along with the Jhujaru Singhs. The armed Jhujaru Singhs could have battled their way out of the area, but due to children being present at the house and wedding atmosphere, the Jhujaru Singhs were all arrested.

 

Bhai Surjit Singh was taken to Bhikhiwind police station. He was kept here for up to fourteen days where he had to endure the most heinous torture but he did not reveal any information. The police then took Bhai Surjit Singh near to the village of Asal, near Patti and killed him in a fake encounter, where he attained Shaheedi (martyrdom). Bhai Surjit Singh’s mother told us that when her son’s body was being taken in for post mortem, he began to breathe again.

 

He even communicated to the hospital nurse that the police had tried to kill him in a fake encounter. The heinous police again took him to another undisclosed location and riddled his bodies with more bullets. The family lodged a complaint and had the nurse make a statement. Seeta Ram was convicted and sentenced. Shaheed Bhai Surjit Singh’s body was never returned and cremated without the consent and knowledge of the family.

 

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Surjit Singh Kala Valtoha