Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala

After leaving home Budhsinghwala joined the kharku group Malwa Kesari Commando Force. It was a small regional group. Under this group Budhsinghwala was accused by police of attacking the home of a police informant and for the 1986 Muktsar bus massacre although neither were proven. After Malwa Kesari Commando Force leader, Waryam Singh, was killed Budhsinghwala was put in charge. It is said that after Budhsinghwala was proclaimed head of Malwa Kesari Commando Force he vowed to kill those who killed Waryam Singh. Soon after 3 involved in Waryama Singh’s death were killed by Gurjant Singh including the Sarpanch of Rode Joginder Singh.[7][8][9]

[10][11]

Budhsinghwala joined the Khalistan Liberation Force in 1986 and was soon made Lieutenant-General of KLF by Avtar Singh Brahma.[12]

One of Budhsinghwala’s earliest attacks in June 1987 was on S.H.O (Station house officer) Mith Singh. Mith Singh had been hand picked by then chief of Punjab Police Julio F. Riberio. He was picked to deal with 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.[6] Mith Singh was shot while he was walking. In the crossfire a police constable and schoolboy were also killed. 5 others were injured.[13]

One of Budhsinghwala’s most major actions was the killing of S.S.P (Senior Superintend of Police) Avinder Singh Brar and S.P. (Superintend of Police) K.R.S. Gill in 1987[14]

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 signalled to a third person who pulled out an AK-47. Brar was killed instantly by a bulltet 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Budhsinghwala also 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.[18][19] During an April 1988 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.[20][21][22] A motive for attacks on Tohra could be the belief of militants that Tohra was involved in Operation Blue Star.[23]

Following Avtar Singh's death in July of 1988 Budhsinghwala commanded Khalistan Liberation Force.[24][25]

Budhsinghwala along with his followers had killed many notable officers including S.S.P Gobind Ram, S.S.P A.S Brar, S.P K.R.S Gill, S.P Detective R.S Tiwara, and D.S.P (Deputy Superintendent of Police) Tara Chand. They were killed in revenge for killings of other Khalistan Liberation Force members or in revenge for extrajudicial killings of other Sikhs.[14]

On of Budhsinghwala’s first action as head of KLF was the September 1988 killing of Major General B.N. Kumar.[26] He was killed by two KLF members using AK-47 rifles in Chandigarh. Two of his aides suffered serious injuries. Kumar had been accused of triggering floods throughout Punjab. Kumar at the point was the highest rank soldier to be killed.[27][28]

Budhsinghwala along with Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, a KLF member, also killed Inspector R. Sodha.[29]

On June 25 1989 Budhsinghwala along with Kulwant Singh and other KLF members attacked a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) meeting at Nehru Park in Moga. 21 RSS members were killed with a police officer, a paramilitary home guard and a couple dying of a bomb blast after the shooting leaving a total of 25 dead and 31-35 injured. It has since been renamed to Shahidi Park meaning Martyr Park. According to police Sikhs opened fire with automatic weapons from a van killing 21 and injuring many more before fleeing. Soon after a powerful bomb blast occurred which killed 4, injured more, and caused damage. A second bomb also blew up after, but it caused no damage or injuries. A curfew was announced immediately following the incident.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

Home Minister Buta Singh described the incident as, "a very serious attempt on the part of terrorists to whip up tension along communal lines."[31]

On August 3 1989 under Budhsinghwala Kulwant Singh, a senior KLF member, and another killed Charan Das. Das was the head of a heterodox Dalit religious group. He had been accused of blasphemy of Guru Granth Sahib. He was chopped into pieces by the KLF members.[36][37]

On September 13 1989 S.S.P Gobind Ram’s son was killed in an attempted attack on Gobind Ram by Budhsinghwala and other KLF members.[38]

Three days later on September 16 1989 Manish Karma, son of S.P Des Raj, would be kidnapped by Budhsinghwala. His reasoning was that he wanted police officers to go through the pain of losing a child as so many Sikh had in fake encounters. Though the real reason was for the release of Khalistan Liberation Force members. Manishu was let go in exchange for the release of Budhsinghwala’s allies. Manishu was treated well while he was captured. He said that he was given sweets and was told stories of the Sikh Gurus. On the day of his release he was dressed in new clothes and was given 1.1 Million rupees.[38]

S.S.P Gobind Ram was killed on January 10 1990. The planning of the killing was done by Budhsinghwala while the killing was done Toofan Singh and others. Gobind Ram was killed in a bomb blast at the headquarters of the 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police in Jalandhar. The bomb was planted in the cooler of his office. In the blast 3 others were killed and at least 4 were wounded. The blast also caused major damage to the building. Gobind Ram had been on the hit list of Sikhs over his role in fake encounters. He had also beat and tortured the wives of Sikh militants.[39][14][40]

Budhsinghwala also killed ex-treasurer of Punjab Balwant Singh in 1990, Magistrate Goyal Moga after he and his guards surrendered and Vice-President of the Punjab Congress party Lala Bhagwan Das along with his bodyguards.[14] Under Budhsinghwala in January of 1992 two KLF members killed Sher Singh, president of All India Youth Akali Dal, at Aroorgarh.[41]

Budhsinghwala also injured Chief of Punjab Police, D.G.P. (Director General of Police) D.S Mangat in a bomb blast in 1991. The blast injured three of his security guards with his chief security officer losing a foot.[14][42]

On October 9 of 1991 Budhsignhwala along with the Bhindranwale Tiger Force, the Khalistan Commando Force, and the Sikh Students Federation kidnapped Romanian charge d’affaires Lividu Radu.[43] Radu was taken from his car at around 8 am. He was forced into the vehicle of Budhsinghwala and co by 4 Sikhs who were armed. Quickly after the kidnapping, many raids were launched by security forces. Exit routes from Delhi were blocked and authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana were warned of the situation.[44] The kidnappers demanded the release of the killers of General Vaidya. Two of whom were Harjinder Singh Jinda, and Sukhdev Singh Sukha.The kidnappers threatened to cut Radu in pieces if their demands weren't met by October 19.[45][46] The deadline passed, but Sikh militants did not harm Radu.[47] The Indian government refused to meet any of the Sikhs demands.[48] Radu was kept in Delhi until October 27. He was then moved to Punjab by car. On November 25 Radu was released unharmed after 48 days.[49][50][51]

Budhsinghwala was responsible for the killings of over 1,000 people including key police officers and politicians.[52][53][54]