The Great Battle of Karnama

Shaheed Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Pappu Gora

 

In a town named Batala in the district of Gurdaspur, is a village called Karnama, which is roughly situated 7-8 kilometres away. In the village of Karnama during the time of the Sikh struggle, such an event took place which showed the world the truth about false and real police encounters.

 

During 1991 and 1992, Panthic Committee (Dr. Sohan Singh) and some Jhujaru groups had decided to boycott the Punjab elections, due to this the Congress Party came into power. The Congress government were out to kill the Sikh youth in Punjab, and were given the name of Zakriya Khan due to their anti-Sikh policies.

 

Orders were given to the Indian security forces that wherever they saw Amritdhari Sikh men, to abduct them and finish them off. Everyday in the newspaper headlines people would read about the police encounters, but each and every story would be the same: The police challenged a Jhujaru Singh, but rather than surrendering the Jhujaru Singh would open fire, to which the police would retaliate resulting in the killing of two or three Sikh men. No police officer would ever be wounded and there would not be a trace of a bullet hole in the police jeep.

 

The event which happened in the village of Karnama showed the world how Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s army fight in battle. The Jhujaru Singhs lived by the motto, “Mohe Marne Ka Chao” and eliminated anti-Sikh elements. The event is as follows:

 

On the 26th of January 1992, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Pappu (Gora) and his Jhujaru group were staying at villages close to Mehta. During that time, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Gora was the Deputy Chief of the Khalistan Commando Force. On the evening of the 26th of January, Bhai Gora kept Bhai Daljit Singh Rangeelpur and Bhai Prem Singh with him and sent the other 15-16 Jhujaru Singhs of his group with the Area Commander, Bhai Keval Singh (Sukha Chirra) towards the area of Mand for a special mission. As the evening got darker, Bhai Gora along with his two companions made there way to the village of Karnama, where there was an old and good hideout base.

 

Heading towards their hideout in Karnama, Bhai Gora reached his village Dhadiala around 12-1am. Bhai Gora’s house had two doors. That night Bhai Gora deliberately knocked on the other door, which always remained shut. Bhai Gora’s mother opened the door. Bhai Gora and his 2 Jhujaru brothers stood in the doorway talking to his mother. Bhai Gora’s mother insisted on the Singhs to at least eat or drink something before they go, but the Singh’s never ate or drank anything.

 

After a little while, Bhai Gora and is companions left for their next destination. After walking through the fields, Bhai Gora and his companions arrived in the village of Karnama. Bhai Gora and the other two Singh’s knocked on the door of an elderly lady, which was Bhai Gora’s trusted place to stop, after obtaining the elderly ladies blessing and Singhs entered the house (A).

 

During that time, Bhai Gora had a GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) and a 30-calibre pistol. Bhai Daljit Singh had an AK47 assault rifle, one 30-calibre pistol and a small bag which contained a Khalistan Commando Force letter pad, a pistol which was no longer functional and some other documents. Bhai Prem Singh had a rocket launcher which had two rockets, one AK47 assault rifle and a pistol.

 

Bhai Gora and Bhai Daljit Singh put their weapons on the bed and asked Bhai Prem Singh to recite prayers and stay awake through the night. Bhai Prem Singh was the newly appointed Lieutenant General. It is worth mentioning that after a Singh attained Shaheedi, Bhai Gora appointed Bhai Gurmeet Singh Bittu of Batala to take his position, but one day when Bhai Gurmeet Singh was sent on a mission, after which he never returned to the Jhujaru group, so at the tender age of 17 years, Bhai Prem Singh was appointed as the Lieutenant.

 

Bhai Gora was a Singh who never missed his daily prayers, so before going to sleep that night, he recited prayers and did Ardas. It is worth mentioning, when Bhai Sahib would do Ardas, he would request the following: “Hey great lord, please bless me so that i attain martyrdom during a battle, may I not be captured while sleeping or without my weapons. May I take revenge from ASI Kashmir Singh, who disrespected Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj during Shaheed Bhai Tarsem Singh Jatt’s final Ardas, also may I live to take revenge for the killing of brother, Shaheed Bhai Gurpalwinderjit Singh Babla.”

 

It is worth mentioning that during the final Ardas for the Jhujaru leader, Shaheed Bhai Tarsem Singh Jatt in the village of Dhup Sarhi Batala, District Gurdaspur, a policeman named Kashmir Singh disrespected the purity of the Sri Akhand Paath Sahib and kicked the Palki Sahib. Bhai Sahib took revenge for the martyrdom of Bhai Gurpalwinderjit Singh Babla, by killing the police informer which caused Bhai Sahib’s death. Bhai Sahib gave the Singh’s important instructions:

 

  1. Do not enter anyone’s house with wrong intensions.
  2. Die fighting rather than swallowing a cyanide capsule and committing suicide.
  3. Whatever room the house owners gives, stay in that room and don’t walk around their house.
  4. Recite Waheguru all the time and shower every day.
  5. Do not steal anyone’s car, motorcycle or scooter.
  6. Always have your weapons on you at all times, if you need to go to the city then make sure you keep a small weapon on you (Pistol, Revolver, Grenade).
  7. Do not harass someone who is innocent.
  8. At night, while all Singh’s rest make sure one Singh stays on guard and recites prayers.

 

It is worth mentioning that this General who is born in the village of Dhadiala (district Gurdaspur) never got married. Many Jhujaru Singhs from the Khalistan Commando Force group said to Bhai Gora to get married, Bhai Sahib would reply, “I am married to death, you have seen what the wives of the Shaheed Singh’s get up too. (there were a few incidents which took place during that time) It has brought shame to Shaheedi of the Singh.”

 

Around about 4am, Bhai Gora and Bhai Daljit Singh went to bed and Bhai Prem Singh was on guard. The two Singh’s went to sleep in room (R-l) of house (A). At 6.30am, Bhai Prem Singh bathed and woke up the other two Singh’s. Bhai Prem Singh started to recite his Nitnem and the other two singhs bathed and came into the room (R-l). Bhai Gora told Bhai Prem Singh to clean the weapons properly while they recite their morning prayers.

 

Another point worth mentioning, previously on the 23rd, Bhai Prem Singh and other Singh’s got into a small battle with the army on the Drain bridge, there were no casualties. After that battle, even though the weapons were clean, they still had to be opened up and cleaned thoroughly. After, Bhai Gora and Bhai Diljit Singh finished reciting their morning prayers, Bhai Prem Singh was still cleaning the weapons. Bhai Gora said, “Babayo, that’s enough, fit the weapons, you have taken too long. Fit them, they should be fine.”

 

Bhai Prem Singh started to fit the weapons, the elderly lady came into the room (R-l) and asked the Singh’s whether they wanted to eat something. In joking manner, Bhai Gora said, “Mata Ji, it has been many days since we’ve ate your home-made Aloo Wale Paronthe.” The 3 Jhujaru Singh’s sat on the bed, while the Mata Ji started to serve them. Before eating, the Singhs had eaten and then decided to do an Ardas. The Singhs were halfway through an Ardas when all of a sudden, they heard dogs barking outside. In a split second all peace was broken. It was around 8.30am (27th January1992), the Mata Ji asked her 9/10-year-old grandson to go upstairs to look over the balcony and see why are these dogs were barking. The child looked around and seen the house was surrounded by Punjab police officers, Border Security Force soldiers and Indian army soldiers. Seeing this sight, the child panicked and couldn’t utter a word from his mouth and came running downstairs. Then Mata Ji went upstairs (R-l) to see what is happening, once seeing the Indian security forces the Mata Ji alerted the 3 Jhujaru Singhs from the stairs (S) and told the Singhs, “Save yourselves, the whole village is surrounded with police officers.” Upon hearing this, the 3 Jhujaru Singh’s picked up their weapons and loaded them with bullets and then started reciting Sri Chaupai Sahib prayer and did Ardas.

 

Bhai Gora turned facing his 2 Jhujaru brothers and said, “Until I don’t say don’t fire any bullets, don’t panic or rush. Take this as the time to attain martyrdom, do not run away. You are the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, fight courageously, do not let a bullet go to waste, the Guru will bless us with victory.”

 

By this time the whole village had been surrounded. Inside, the 3 Jhujaru Singh’s were ready and were awaiting their enemy to come forward. An announcement was made from the speakers of the village Sikh Gurudwara, “The Punjab police, BSF and the army have surrounded the whole village. Any Jhujaru Singhs who are in hiding in the village, do not attempt to run away, drop your weapons and come out with your hands in the air. All the villagers are to vacate their homes and gather in the school grounds, only one person per house should to stay in the house.”

 

The elderly Mata Ji sent her grandson to the school grounds, the house (B) next door was owned by her son but he wasn’t home. So, the Mata Ji sent her daughter in law to the school grounds also. There was a door between the rooms (R-l) and (R-ll) connecting the houses (A) and (B). So, the Mata Ji opened that door (D-3) and the locked the outer door (D-2) of the room with an old lock. The Jhujaru Singhs took their weapons and moved to the room (R-ll) of house (B), waiting for the right time to attack.

 

A little while later, a group of police officers who were under the command of SP RP Singh Teja entered the Mata Ji’s house (A) from the gate (G-1) and started their search for the Jhujaru Singhs. The Singhs were in the house (B) next door, while the police were searching Mata Ji’s house (A). According to the information provided by the informer to the police, the Jhujaru Singhs were staying in this Mata Ji’s house but despite this information, the police did not get hold of anything.

 

Once the police were satisfied with their thorough search, they began to ask the Mata Ji about the house (B) next door. The Mata Ji informed the police that the house next door was owned by her son, who lives separate from her, he is out of town and his wife has locked the house and has gone out. The police officers asked for the key to the lock, but the Mata Ji told the police that she doesn’t have the key. After hearing Mata Ji refusing to give the police officers the key, they started to swear at her. The Jhujaru Singhs could hear and see how the police officers were treating this elderly Mata Ji, they were getting really angry but they managed to control themselves.

 

The police then entered house (B) through the gate, they searched the house and then headed back. The Singhs remained in room (R-ll) of house (B). A few minutes later, the police force came back to the house (B) with SP Teja. The SP said, “According to the informer the Jhujaru Singhs are in this house, get spades and break the rooms (R-ll) ceiling from the roof.”

 

Under the command of Bhai Gora, the Jhujaru Singhs sat in silence. The SP had thought that if the Jhujaru Singhs were in this house then they would surely make some sort of movements when hearing the ceiling being broken. Bhai Gora was very tactical, he told his fellow Jhujaru Singhs, “Until you don’t see a hole in the ceiling and a police officer, don’t fire any bullets.” The Singhs could hear the officers trying to break the ceiling, but after a while the officers gave up and went downstairs and then left with the SP. The Singh’s remained quiet and in the same room (R-ll).

 

SP Teja came back to the house (B) again for the third time with his police force. He instructed his team to go to the alleyway (S-1) behind the room (R-ll) to check and open the ventilator (W) to see if there are any Jhujaru Singhs inside room.

 

The police officers got a ladder from someone’s house and one officer set up a ladder in the alleyway (S-1) to climb up and open the ventilator (W). Bhai Gora and Bhai Daljeet Singh stood quietly against the wall (W-1) and Bhai Prem Singh quietly hid underneath the bed (DB). The officer had a quick look inside and told the other officers that there doesn’t seem to be anybody in the room (R-ll). The police officers came back into the alleyway, but their informer assured them that the Jhujaru Singhs are hiding between the two houses (A) and (B). For the fourth time SP Teja entered the house (B) via the gates (G-2) along with 40-50 officers, he ordered the officers to break the lock of the room (R-ll). SP Teja abused the elderly Mata Ji who was standing in her son’s house (B), he said, “Old woman get lost from here, have you kept your son in laws here.”

 

During this time, the officers started to break the lock on the door. The Jhujaru Singhs who were hiding in the room opened the inside door (D-3) to move into the other house (A), and they quietly shifted a wardrobe in front of the door. Due to the Singhs being in a hurry, they left behind a bag which contained a useless revolver, Khalistan Commando Force letter pad and some documents in room (R-ll). Within a few minutes the lock was broken. SP Teja entered the room with his force and they found the bag. This confirmed the police officers suspicious that the Jhujaru Singhs are hiding here. The Singhs were hiding the in the room (R-l) of the house (A) next door which belonged to the elderly Mata Ji. SP Teja sent out a message on his wireless and asked for back up, he also requested for bullet proof tractors to be sent.

 

While using the wireless set, SP Teja walked out of the house (B) with his 40-50 officers and headed towards the house (A) via the gate (G-1). The room (R-l) the Singhs were hidden in was locked from inside, they stood behind the door (D-1) ready. SP Teja was still busy on the wireless set calling for back up, while standing in the courtyard (25’ 10’) of the house (A) along with roughly 50 officers including Thanedars, Hawaldars and soldiers.

 

The door (D-1) of room (R-l) was slightly broken, so the Jhujaru Singhs could see everything that was happening outside in the courtyard through the gaps in the door. Bhai Gora told Bhai Daljit Singh to stand on the right side of him and Bhai Prem Singh to stand on his left side.

 

The Jhujaru Singhs were ready, standing holding their breath they were armed as follows, Bhai Prem Singh had an AK47 assault rifle, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Pappu Gora was armed with a GPM machine gun in the middle and on his left side Bhai Daljit Singh was armed with an AK47 assault rifle also. Bhai Gora lightly whispered to his companions, “As soon as the door opens, fire your weapons. Do not get scared and do not run away, just attack and eliminate the enemy.”

 

SP Teja was standing in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by his 50-60 officers when all of a sudden, the door (D-1) opened, the sky echoed with war cries from the Jhujaru Singhs, “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal!” The Jhujaru Singhs opened fire, they took the police officers by surprise. The Singhs immense firing from their machine gun and 2 assault rifles has laid many dead bodies in the courtyard (25’ 10’) of the house (R-l). The police offers weren’t able to even fire a bullet. The courtyard (25’ 10’) was filled with smoke from the firing of the Jhujaru Singhs and dust from the bullets hitting the walls of the house.

 

The 3 Jhujaru Singhs came out into the courtyard (25’ 10’), the first thing Bhai Gora did was check SP Teja’s pulse, he was dead. There were dead bodies lying all around the courtyard, the officers who were injured were so scared that they couldn’t fire at the Singhs. The Singhs fired upon the officers who were hiding, but spared the lives of the officers who fell at the feet of Jhujaru Singhs begging for mercy.

 

Up until now the magazines from the guns of the Jhujaru Singh were empty. Bhai Gora and Bhai Daljit Singh started to reload their guns, while Bhai Prem Singh remained on guard. Bhai Prem Singh was sitting outside the kitchen (K) where the cooking area (R) was made, while the other two Jhujaru Singhs were sitting inside the room (R-l) loading their guns.

 

Suddenly, Bhai Prem Singh seen 2 officers get on to the roof of the cow stable (B-1). Bhai Prem Singh blasted a burst of bullets from his AK47 assault rifle. One officer was fell back and the other fell into the courtyard in from of Bhai Prem Singh.

 

The Singhs had loaded their weapons, when they heard the noise of boots marching towards them from the house (B) next door. Bhai Gora immediately told his fellow Singhs to take up their positions. Bhai Gora stood behind the bed (Manja) which Bhai Prem Singh had put up against the wall near the stairs. Bhai Gora opened fire into the house (B) next door from over the wall of house (A), the officers who were standing in the courtyard of (B) were surprised, some officers died on the spot and rest ran away.

 

The Singhs were now standing in the courtyard of house (A), their faces showed happiness because the way they had tackled the police with a great strategy. The Singhs knew that there was a heavy police presence and that the battle would be tough. The courtyard of house (A) was full of dead bodies. The Singhs gathered the ALR rifles of the dead officers and restocked themselves with their assault rifle’s magazines.

 

The police officers were firing upon the houses (A) and (B) from outside, as they didn’t have the courage to enter the houses and face the wrath of the Jhujaru Singhs. The Singhs were roaming the courtyard like lions. The skies echoed with war cries of the success attained by the Singhs and their battle strategy. Even though the time of martyrdom felt as if it was nearing, but the skies were echoing the sound of, “Khalistan Zindabad, Khalistan Zindabad!” After achieving victory in the first battle inside the house (A), the Singhs decided to come out of the house for the second phase of the battle.

 

The Singhs took some of their weapons and some weapons that belonged to the dead officers and headed out the gate (G-1) of house (A), through the alleyway (S-2). During this time the Singhs had the following weapons:

 

  • Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Gora: 1x GPM machine gun, 2x ALR rifles, 2x grenades and 1x pistol.

 

  • Bhai Prem Singh: 2x AK47 assault rifles, 1x pistol and ammunition.

 

  • Bhai Daljit Singh: 1x AK47 assault rifle, 1x RPG rocket launcher, 2x rockets and 1x ALR rifle

 

The 3 Jhujaru Singhs existed via the gate (G-1). The alleyway (S-2) was empty. The police officers were so frightened that they had ran away. The Singhs were walking through the alleyway shouting slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad.”

 

The Singhs walked through the alleyway (S-2) and then turned right into the next alleyway (S-4), at the end of that alleyway there was fields through (TP-1) and (TP-2), the police had fitted two light machine guns (LMG) there. The police machine guns opened fire at the Jhujaru Singhs. The Singhs lay down and took their positions in the alleyway and returned fire. Bullets were being fired from both sides, one of the officers who was firing from one of the LMGs from (TP-2) was killed, the other officer seen his colleague get killed and took his LMG and ran away from (TP-1). The two LMGs were being under the command of ASI Kashmira Singh. With the continuous firing, a bullet hit ASI Kashmira in the arm, who then ran back. The firing from the LMGs had now stopped. Rest of the police officers got so scared that they ran away.

 

The Singhs got up and headed outside of the village towards the fields. As the Jhujaru Singhs went on ahead, they saw wounded ASI Kashmira running from the battlefield. When Bhai Gora saw Kashmira, his eyes filled with blood, his muscles got tense and aimed his GPM machine gun at the ASI and shouted, “Oi Kashmira! If you have drank your mother’s milk, then let’s see you run!” Saying this, Bhai Gora ran after ASI Kashmira. The other two Singhs also followed Bhai Gora. After running a short distance, Bhai Gora wrestled ASI Kashmira to the ground. ASI Kashmira’s 8mm pistol also fell, now he started begging for mercy from the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj saying, “Babayo, please spare my life. I have made a big mistake, I have very young children, please forgive me. I am touching your feet, please forgive me.”

 

Bhai Gora was holding a GPM machine gun, he put his foot on the ASI’s chest and said, “Oi you evil man! How can i forgive you, you have killed so many innocent people’s sons, you have widowed our sisters and above all you have disrespected Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, for which you are not worthy of being forgiven.” Saying this, Bhai Gora fired bullets from his machine gun into Kashmira’s chest. The Singhs now started headed towards the wheat fields and walked alongside of the water drain (WD).

 

The police had surrounded the fields (M), bullets were being fired from all sides. In the fields nearby, the police bullet proof tractors (BPT) were going around, but the police didn’t have the courage to come near the Jhujaru Singhs. It was at this point, a bullet fired from a police officer’s machine gun hit Bhai Gora’s thigh breaking the bone. It is worth mentioning, that this was the same officer who ran off with his LMG from (TP-1) and had hidden near the tubewell (T).

 

Due to Bhai Gora’s leg being wounded with the bullet, his leg was bleeding heavily. Bhai Gora took position at the location where he was shot and started firing his GPM machine gun continuously, that the police officer who was hidden near the tubewell was killed. Bhai Gora was now struggling to walk due to the wound on his leg, on the other hand, the police kept firing bullets from all sides. In this time, a police bullet pierced through Bhai Daljit Singh’s thigh also. Due to adrenalin rush, Bhai Gora was able to still walk a little but he was losing a lot of blood. The bulletproof tractors (BPT) were roaming around nearby but they didn’t come close to the Singhs because they knew that they had a rocket launcher.

 

The Jhujaru Singhs were positioned in the wheat fields (M) and returning fire. Bhai Prem Singh took off his small turban from his head and tied it around Bhai Gora’s thigh. The police forces were arriving in thousands, the 3 Jhujaru Singh were battling well. When the firing would stop in between, Bhai Gora would give advice to the fellow Jhujaru Singhs. The small turban that was tied around Bhai Gora’s thigh was dripping with blood.

 

Bhai Gora smiled at his Jhujaru brothers and said, “The Ardas, I have been doing at the feet of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, has finally been answered. We have not been caught asleep, instead we are putting our life on the line fighting in broad daylight. RP Singh has been killed and we have paid the debt of Babli’s martyrdom, we have taken revenge from ASI Kashmira, who disrespected Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj. My wishes have been fulfilled and now I wait for my martyrdom.” By now, Bhai Gora’s leg was had become useless, but even then, he continued to fire bullets back at the Indian security forces and kept the enemy at bay.

 

It was around 2 o’clock in the afternoon of 27th January 1992, Bhai Gora was wounded by 2 bullets, but even then, he was in high spirits. Bhai Gora kept saying to his companions, “If you get the chance to escape then go for it, I will attain Shaheedi here.” The Jhujaru companions replied, “How can we leave without you? You are our Chief.” In the end Bhai Gora said, “If you consider me as your Chief, then I command you both to escape from here.” Saying this, Bhai Gora gave Bhai Dajit Singh his watch, wallet and his diary. Bhai Gora gave cover fire to assist his Jhujaru brothers to escape, but due to the heavy police presence the Singh’s couldn’t escape, and they came back to Bhai Gora and laying down, continued fighting the Indian security forces. It had been a while and Bhai Gora was now in a very bad state. Bhai Gora told his fellow Singhs, “Take one weapon each and leave the rest with me, don’t fire any bullets and try to from here.” Obeying their Chief’s command, Bhai Prem Singh grabbed his AK47 assault rifle and Bhai Daljit Singh took an ALR rifle as well as his AK47 assault rifle and attempted to escape for the second time.

 

Just ahead, Bhai Daljit was trying to across the water drain (WD) but the police started firing. Due to the firing, Bhai Daljit Singh’s ALR rifle fell in the drain, but managed to cross the drain and hid within the sugarcane fields (SF-1). The police continued firing, due to this Bhai Prem Singh fell behind in (E-2). When Bhai Prem Singh tried crossed on to the other side of the drain (WD), a police jeep arrived, the officers got out of the jeep and opened fire on Bhai Prem Singh. Bhai Prem Singh also returned fire, killing 2 police officers on the spot. Rest of the police officers ran away and took cover on the edge of the drain (WD) by laying down. Bhai Prem Singh also crossed the drain (WD) and ran into another sugarcane fields (SF-2). Bhai Daljit Singh and Bhai Prem Singh were in separate sugarcane fields and remained quiet.

 

The 2 Jhujaru Singhs returned fire for a while, but the police’s focus was on Bhai Gora. Bhai Gora was firing with different weapons, as he had 4 different types of weapons (GPM, AK47, ALR and an RPG, which hadn’t been used yet), the police were under the impression that maybe there is more Jhujaru Singhs with Bhai Gora. Bhai Prem Singh and Bhai Daljit Singh were very thirsty but there was not a drop of water nearby. Bhai Gora was responding to the police firing according to his battle strategy. Due to the amount of blood Bhai Gora had lost, he was becoming weak.

 

The firing was on and off. Bhai Prem Singh and Bhai Daljit Singh managed to get quiet far from the scene of battle via the sugarcane fields. All of a sudden, there was a loud bang. In fact, the police officers brought their bulletproof tractor (BPT) forward as Bhai Gora’s firing rate had reduced. Bhai Gora fired a rocket towards the bulletproof tractor (BPT), but the rocket missed and exploded in the fields of neighbouring village. Bhai Gora was well trained in firing all weapons, but there could have been many reasons into why he missed the target with the RPG. It could have been due to him being wounded, an RPG is supposed to be fired taking an open position, but Bhai Gora fired it laying down due to being wounded and losing a lot of blood. Also aiming at a still object with a rocket launcher is a lot easier than trying to aim at an object that is moving.

 

The other two Jhujaru Singhs got out of the sugarcane fields. Slowly the firing started to reduce, and the sun had started to set. Bhai Prem Singh and Bhai Daljit Singh arrived at a house where they had a drink of water and got clothes from the house owners and tied their turbans. By now these 2 Jhujaru Singhs had realised that their Chief, Bhai Gora has attained martyrdom by now or he has been surrounded by police. Bhai Prem Singh and Bhai Daljit Singh sent another Singh to go and find out what had happened at Karnama village. The Singh went to the village and came back in the midnight and told the Jhujaru Singhs the following:

 

“Around 4pm, the exchange of bullets had stopped. Firing from Bhai Gora had completely stopped. The bulletproof tractors (BPT) had surrounded Bhai Gora (M), but were afraid to go close to him. The police bought Mata Swaran Kaur (mother of Bhai Gora) from Dadiala Najara village, and used her as a human shield and approached Bhai Gora. The body of Bhai Gora lying in a pool of blood, one thigh was wrapped in a cloth which was also drenched in blood. Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Pappu Gora had attained martyrdom. There was a bullet wound near Bhai Gora’s shoulder, one of his foot thumbs was stuck in the machine gun trigger and one side of his head was blown off. Bhai Sahib was worried that if he loses consciousness then the police might capture him alive, so he used his foot to press the trigger and shoot himself on the right side of the head, attaining martyrdom.”

 

When Mata Swaran Kaur seen the sight of her son’s dead body, she let out a loud cry, an officer standing behind her in the head with the butt of his rifle and said, “Old lady, you’re crying over one, our whole police station is empty because of your son.”

 

Research done by Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke

Translated by 1984tribute.com