Blue Star: Shahid Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar

[jagjit_waheguru]

The lastest installment on tapoban. - click links for story with the pictures

Part 1 - http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=59845&t=59845

Part 2 - http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=60152&t=60152

part 3 - http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=60591&t=60591

part 4 - http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=60943&t=60943

Blue Star: Shahid Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar Part 4

Author: Zorawar Singh

Date: 11-17-05 22:33

From L to R: Shahid Bhai Manmohan Singh, Shahid Bhai Mengha Singh, Shahid Bhai Sukhdev Singh & Shahid Bhai Sulakhan Singh

Bhai Sahib's Family

During this period of 1980-84, Bhai Sahibs family was blessed with children. Bhai sahib had one daughter, Amrit Kaur, and two sons called Tejinder Singh and Gurvinder Singh.

Bhai Sahib elder brother, Bhai Mehal Singh also joined the ranks of the Babbar Khalsa. He is an exceptional individual, especially capable with electronics. These skills became very valuable to the Movement.

Operation Bluestar

Bhai Sahib had been based in Siri Darbar Sahib for some year now. All the Singhs based in Siri Darbar Sahib knew that the Government were sending troops and a conflict would soon happen. General Subheg Singh ji commanded all the Singhs during Operation Blue Star.

Bhai Sahib was accompanied by 90 Babbar Khalsa Singhs during the Operation. General Subheg Singh had asked the Babbar Khalsa Singhs to position themselves at the Guru Nanak Niwas, Guru Ram Das Niwas, and Baba Atal Sahib.

Bhai Sukhdev Singh and Bhai Mehal Singh were positioned at Baba Atal Sahib Gurdwara. Bhai Mehal Singh ji, is a genius with electronics, and had created an elaborate communication system around the whole complex, so all Singhs knew what was happening all the time.

When the Operation Blue Star began, the first Singh to be Shaheed was Bhai Mengha Singh ji Babbar.

Shaheed Bhai Mengha Singh Ji

He was a very high jeevan wale Gursikh, who spent most of his time doing joorian de seva ( seva of shoes). He had been shot in the skull, however just sat down, ignored the blood from his head. He started singing Sukhmani Sahib very loud. Only when he had completed the whole Sukhmani Sahib did he leave this world. When the initial firing ceased, all the Singhs including Sant ji, and Bhai Sukhdev Singh were together at his funeral.

The Singhs all fought together for the next two days. They fiercely held the Battalions of the Indian Army. They were expertly directed by and under the guidance of General Subegh Singh ji. Everytime the army thought they had made some advance, the Singhs would go into the sewer systems, come up behind the army and attack them from both sides.

Another Babbar, Bhai Avtar Singh was the one who did keertan in Sir Harmandar sahib as part of a jatha. He continued keertan during the fighting for many hours, and never stopped, giving strength to the Gursikhs fighting, and also wishing the maryada of continuous keertan in Darbar Sahib to remain. He was shot in the chest and attained shaheedi on the second day of Operation Blue Star.

Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar was given the seva of ferrying innocent sangat out of the complex during the 3 days of fighting. He and his unit saved hundreds of sangat from the inevitable slaughter. For 3 days, they kept coming in and out of the complex saving sangat, and passing vital ammunitions.

After fighting for 3 days, the Battalions of the Indian Army had suffered many losses. Frustrated they brought in tanks, and a helicopter gunship to attack the Singhs at Siri Akal Thakht Sahib. Jathedar Sukhdev Singh saw from his position at Baba Atal Sahib, that the Siri Akal Takht sahib was totally desecrated, and the only Singhs left were the ones fighting around the well underneath Siri Akal Takht Sahib. Bhai Mehal Singh sent a message to Sant Ji on the communication system stating, that we can send 2 Singhs down the sewage systems, to the well and get you out. But you have to tell us now, otherwise it will be too late. Sant Ji sent a message back, stating, "He had done Ardas never to leave, and will stay until Shaheedi". A few hours later, Sant Ji accepted Shaheedi.

Much of the focus of the army was also on Baba Atal sahib and Guru Nanak Niwas, but now with Siri Akal Thakht Sahib subdued, the Army shifted the tanks to their direction. The Singhs had now seen what had happened at Siri Akal Takht Sahib. The Singhs told Jathedar Sukhdev Singh, we must leave now, and continue the fight. Bhai sahib did not want to leave, and said he would cover their escape. But they insisted, and Panj Gursikhs did a hukam on Jathedar Sukhdev Singh. They were totally surrounded. A signal was sent out to all Singhs still fighting at Baba Atal Sahib, Guru Nanak Niwas and Guru Ram Das Niwas. They got suitcases from the Niwas (hotel), and tied one on the front, and one on the back, with ropes. All the Singhs came running out together fighting under a hail of bullets at the same time. Many Singhs were shaheed, but many also managed to get to the side streets of Amritsar.

The whole area was under curfew. But many Singhs were given sanctuary by the local residents. The same Hindu shop keeper, that Jathedar Sukhdev Singh had helped before, helped Bhai Sahib escape. The Army was going from house to house and flat to flat, gathering all Sikh men, as part of Operation Woodrose to massacre them either inside Darbar Sahib, or in surrounding areas. Hundreds of Sikhs were being killed. When the Army came to check the building in which Bhai Sahib had gone to, they did not search the flat. The Hindu shop keeper opened the door, and because he was a Hindu, he convinced them to ignore the flat.

to be continued....

[lowest of the low singhni]

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