Avtar Singh Brahma

Not much is known about Avtar Singh's early life. What is known is that he was born in 1951 in Brahampur near Tarn Taran Sahib. His family was an agricultural one and were very poor. He left school at an early age to work at his family farm.[4][5] Avtar Singh at a young age was sent by his parents to Bidhi Chand Dal. He was brought up in the dera at Sur Singh near Amritsar. He soon took amrit and became a Khalsa.[5] There he also became a Nihang Singh who are generally the warriors of the Sikh community.[6]

Following Operation Blue Star an Insurgency began in the Punjab. Avtar Singh created a small militant gang known as the “Tat Khalsa”.[7]

Avtar Singh would take revenge in his home village for the beating of women and children.[3]

In 1985 Avtar Singh attacked SHO (Station House Officer) Harminder Singh who managed to survive, but was injured.[5]

In 1986 Aroor Singh formed the Khalistan Liberation Force which was a merger of the Tat Khalsa, Mai Bhago Regiment, Khalistan Armed Police, Dasmesh Regiment, Khalistan Security Force and others.[8][9] In 1987 Aroor Singh was arrested and brutally tortured by police.[10] He would later be killed. Following his death Avtar Singh took over the Khalistan Liberation Force.[11] Avtar Singh made Gurjant Singh and Pipal Singh his 2 Lieutenant-Generals[12][13]

One of Avtar Singh's first exploits was attacking CRPF, BSF, and Indian army convoys. Brahma would lead regular attacks on security personnel convoys.[14]

In Baler Avtar Singh Brahma and fellow militants surrounded a CRPF jeep. CRPF men tried to flee and fight, but were killed. In retaliation for this security personnel shot and killed 2 Sikhs who they claimed were militants. Avtar Singh Brahma refuted these claims saying they were innocent Sikhs of the village.[14][5]

Soon after Avtar Singh Brahma and fellow militants were attacked by a force of 20,000 CRPF members in Manakpur. A fierce battle ensued. The militants fought throughout the day and managed to hold off the CRPF. Avtar Singh and fellow militants broke through the CRPF's lines and escaped at night. Many of the militants had died.[14] Over 3 CRPF vehicles were blown up and Avtar Singh lost part of his finger.[15]

In 1986 Avtar Singh killed the Thanderar (Assistant Sub-Inspector) of Chola Sahib, Shiv Singh. Shiv Singh was unpopular as he used excessive force and had no respect for the locals. The locals were supporters of Avtar Singh Brahma instead. Avtar Singh had created a major plot to kill Shiv Singh. He had fellow militants tell Shiv Singh his location and led Shiv Singh to believe that he was weak and could be easily captured. Shiv Singh fell for the act and went with fellow officers to arrest Avtar Singh. Avtar Singh knew of their movements and attacked them. Shiv Singh and two other officers were killed and 4 others were injured.[5][14]

Avtar Singh next attacked a CRPF patrol party killing 1 Sub-Inspector and two jawans.[5]

Avtar Singh's legendary status continued to grow. He centred his operation in Mand and was the de facto ruler.[16] Avtar Singh was known as the "King of Mand". In 1986 Operation Mand was launched to capture Avtar Singh and his fellow militants. The Operation was led by KPS Gill and was approved by DGP Julio Riberio.[17] About 30 companies of security forces along with multiple helicopters were deployed for the Operation. [18]According to Avtar Singh, he and fellow militants clashed with and repulsed a CRPF force. According to Avtar Singh, he also shot down a CRPF helicopter.[19] After Avtar Singh and fellow militants managed to escape.[20] The operation faced heavy criticism for being "overkill". The operation lasted for 40 hours. It was initially described as the destruction of the Khalistan capital, but police had only captured a few weapons. Revenue Minister Major Singh Uboke called Operation Mand "Operation Fraud". He said at a cabinet meeting, that innocent Sikh youth and women were being harassed and tortured by the security forces.[20]

On January 15 1987 Avtar Singh’s planned assassination of Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh Bhullar was conducted. Bhullar attacked a Gurdwara in Sri Muktsar Sahib as part of Operation Blue Star. 10 KLF members had broken into Bhullar’s home and killed him in a burst fire. Three others were injured. They left behind a note from Avtar Singh Brahma claiming responsibility.[21]

In January 1987 Avtar Singh Brahma and fellow militants challenged the CRPF to try to capture them for 20 minutes at Brahampura. The CRPF did not attempt to capture him and waited for reinforcements. Once reinforcements arrived around an hour later they smashed their way into homes and searched them in the village trying to find Avtar Singh. They were accused of committing atrocities in the search and faced heavy criticism from many leaders.[22]

Under Avtar Singh senior KLF members launched an attack in Spetember 1987. The target was S.H.O. (Station house officer) Sub-Inspector Mith Singh. Mith Singh had been hand-picked by then chief of Punjab Police Julio F. Riberio. He was picked to deal with Avtar Singh’s Lieutenant-General Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala. Mith Singh had been accused of police brutality and targeting Budhsinghwala’s family. Mith Singh had dragged Budhsinghwala’s father by his hair in a public humiliation.[23] Budhsinghwala began plotting to kill Mith Singh in revenge for his actions with Husan Singh. The attack was carried out by Budshinghwala and fellow Sikh militants on 15 September 1987 at around 9 in the morning. Mith Singh was shot while he was walking along with his guard a police constable. Both of their guns were taken by Budhsinghwala. In the crossfire a schoolboy was also killed and 5 others were injured. The killing is said to have greatly alarmed Punjab Chief of Police Riberio. Mith Singh was one of his best and most loyal officers.[24][25]

One of the major actions under Brahma was the killing of S.S.P (Senior Superintend of Police) Avinder Singh Brar and S.P. (Superintend of Police) K.R.S. Gill on 14 December 1987[26][27]

S.S.P Brar and his junior, S.P K.R.S Gill, were both killed while jogging at Patiala's National Institute of Sports. Both of them had little security. Two men in tracksuits approached them at 7 a.m. They signaled to a third person who pulled out an AK-47. Brar was killed instantly by a bullet hitting his temple. Gill attempted to flee to a police jeep, but was injured with bullets in his head and back. He would die while fleeing. The three killers fled on a motorcycle.[28]

S.S.P A.S Brar’s killing was a major victory for Budhsinghwala. Brar had been held as the best police officer. Brar had cleaned the Babbar Khalsa out of Patiala.[29] According to Chief of Punjab Police at the time J.F Ribeiro Brar would have become the chief of police had he not been killed.[30]

In 1988 Avtar Singh Brahma and fellow militants attacked and destroyed CRPF bases in retaliation for CRPF actions at Brahampur.[31]

In April 1988 KLF led an attack on Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Professor Darshan Singh. Tohra was president of SGPC and Darshan was the SGPC appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht.[32][33] The attack was led by Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, one of Avtar Singh’s lieutenant-generals.[8] At a SGPC meeting at Ludhiana University KLF members under Budhsinghwala snuck their way in using fake ids. They attacked and fought Tohra and Darshan’s security. 5 police officers and 8 members of Tohra and Darshan’s party were killed. No KLF member was killed but Tohra and Darshan managed to escape unhurt.[34][35][36] A motive for attacks on Tohra could be the belief of militants that Tohra was involved in Operation Blue Star.[37]

On 19 June of 1988 under Avtar Singh, reign as head of KLF a senior KLF leader with other members gunned down the head of the Punjab Shiv Sena, Ramkat Jalota. He was killed along with his gunmen and another.[38][39][40]The Shiv Sena had used violence against Sikhs which made them targets of Sikh militants.[41]

Avtar Singh has been reputed for never attacking civilians.[3]

Avtar Singh Brahma was killed on July 22, 1988. He was killed in an encounter near the Pakistan border. One source has described his death as happening in, "mysterious circumstances..."[42] Another says that before Avtar Singh's death he, "scamper[ed] through the verdant fields of Punjab's border district on horseback."[43] His death caused outrage among rural Sikh as he was quite popular amongst them.[44] Avtar Singh had become known as a Robin Hood figure. He is said to have commanded respect until the end.[3] Avtar Singh was succeeded by Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala[45] one of Avtar Singh's lieutenant generals.[46]

2 languages