Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala

Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala (29 June 1966 – 29 July 1992) was a Sikh terrorist and the third Jathedar of the Khalistan Liberation Force. Budhsinghwala's organization, KLF, was one of the most active and main Sikh militant groups during the insurgency in Punjab, India. Budhsinghwala had KLF join the Sohan Singh Panthic Committee and partnered with Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar), Babbar Khalsa, Bhindranwale Tiger Force (Sangha), and Sikh Student Federation (Bittu) in militant actions.

He has been accused of planning and carrying out attacks that killed over 1,000 people including some major acts such as the killing the police chief of Patiala district, Avinder Singh Brar and his junior, an assassination attempt on Beant Singh, an attack on chief of Punjab Police DGP Mangat, an attack on former chief of Punjab Police JF Riberio in Romania, an attack India's Home Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, killing Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Balwant Singh, a role in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, along with various attacks on police, CRPF, NSG, BSF, and the Indian army and a massacre in Moga.

Early life and family Gurjant Singh was born in the village of Budhsinghwala in a Brar Jat Sikh family of, Faridkot district (modern day Moga district) on 29 June 1966. He had four siblings — one sister and three brothers. After allegedly being tortured by the police multiple times, he joined the KLF in 1986.

Another factor that contributed to his joining of KLF was the killing of 8 Sikh militants on 6 April 1984, at Bibi Kahan Kaur Gurdwara in Moga by CRPF, BSF, and Punjab Police. Among the dead was Budhsinghwala's grand uncle.

In June 1985, during Operation Blue Star, he was arrested from Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Moga. He was kept in jail for 2 years and was released after his case came to court.

Member of Malwa Kesri Commando Force After fleeing from house arrest, he joined the Malwa Kesri Commando Force, a local militant group. It was under this group, that Budhsinghwala attacked home of a police informant. He was also accused of killing Additional District and Sessions Judge R. P. Gaind in Jalandhar. Sarpanch Joginder Singh with three of his aides were making their way to a bus stop. They met a few Sikhs who were dressed as farmers, but were actually members of the Malwa Kesri Commando Force. The militants told the Sarpanch and his aides to try and run, as they had come to get revenge. They ran. As they ran the militants opened fire, killing three, with one of the aides managing to flee.

Lieutenant-General of Khalistan Liberation Force Budhsinghwala's group, Malwa Kesri Commando Force, merged with Khalistan Liberation Force during its founding in late 1986 and he was soon after made Lieutenant-General of KLF by Avtar Singh Brahma.

As Lieutenant-General he would discuss each and every action of KLF before hand with fellow higher ups to see if it was morally just or not and if it fit Sikh values.

Killing of police officers One of Budhsinghwala's first actions was in September 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 Budhsinghwala. Mith Singh had been accused of police brutality and targeting Budhsinghwala's family and father.

On 6 November 1987, Budhsinghwala killed Deputy Superintendent of Police Tara Chand. Chand was killed in the Jagraon area.

Killing SSP Avinder Singh Brar and SSP KRS Gill One of Budhsinghwala's most major actions was the killing of Senior Superintendent of Police Avinder Singh Brar and Senior Superintendent of Police KRS Gill on 14 December 1987.

SSP Brar and his junior, SSP KRS Gill, were both shot dead while jogging at Patiala's National Institute of Sports. Both of them had little security. The three killers later fled on a motorcycle.

Brar and Gill were top officers. There killing was described as the biggest killing since that of AS Atwal in Punjab. It was also described as a big killer of police morale. 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.

In 1988 KLF under Avtar Singh Brahma attacked and destroyed CRPF bases in retaliation for CRPF actions at Brahampur.

On the same day 6 KLF members armed with AK-47s shot dead 12 people in a park in Barnala. Five others were injured. One of them was a Shiv Sena worker. Budhsinghwala claimed responsibility in a letter on behalf of KLF. 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. A motive for attacks on Tohra could be the belief of militants that Tohra was involved in Operation Blue Star.

On 19 June 1988, under Budhsinghwala's reign as Lieutenant-General 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. The Shiv Sena had allegedly used violence against Sikhs which made them targets of Sikh militants.

Head of Khalistan Liberation Force Following Avtar Singh's death in July 1988 Budhsinghwala commanded Khalistan Liberation Force. Budhsinghwala was responsible for multiple key assassinations of top cops, and politicians. They were killed in revenge for killings of other Khalistan Liberation Force members or in revenge for extrajudicial killings of other Sikhs.

Assassinations and attacks on security forces Under Budhsinghwala KLF launched frequent attacks on the bases of security forces. A reason was retaliation for crimes against Sikhs committed at Brahmpura by security forces notably by CRPF.

Attacks on security forces Under Budhsinghwala Major Singh Johal, Anar Singh Para, and other KLF members attacked with grenades a Home Guard headquarters in Lakhna Kalan.The Homeguard soldiers retreated in fear.

Under Budhsinghwala Major Singh Johal, and other KLF members attacked a CRPF base in Gandivind Saraa and destroyed it.

In Amarko other KLF members attacked a CRPF patrol and killed 7 officers.

In December 1988, near Sri Hargobindpur, Toofan Singh and others attack SHO (Station House Officer) Swaran Singh and officers with him. No one was hurt in the attack.

KLF claimed responsibility for an attack on a TV tower with RPGs on 30 March 1990, in Amritsar. The attack occurred in the night at 11. In the attack 7 CRPF soldiers were killed with 6 injured. It caused a loss of over 10,000,000 rupees. (Equivalent to $1,250,000 USD)

KLF claimed responsibility for attack a Police station in Dandkasle on 6 April 1990, killing 1 Constable.

On 21 September 1990, KCF, KLF, BKI, and SSF claimed responsibility for an attack on a SPO base which killed 2 officers.

Assassinations of officers Budhsinghwala along with Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, a KLF member, also killed Inspector R. Sodha.

KLF was held responsible for the killing of BSF Deputy Commandant Davinder Singh.

KLF was held responsible for the killing of BSF Assistant Commandant Lachman Singh.

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

Commandant Gobind Ram was killed on 10 January 1990. Gobind Ram was killed in a bomb blast at the headquarters of the 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police in Jalandhar. He was commandant of the 75th battalion. The planning of the killing was done by Budhsinghwala while the killing was done Toofan Singh and others. The bomb was planted in the cooler of his office. In the blast, 3 others, including Sub Inspector Prem Kumar, were killed and at least 4 were critically wounded. The blast also caused major damage to the building. All the windows of the second floor were broken and a fire broke out on the first floor. Multiple vehicles parked were also damaged. Gobind Ram had been on the hit list of Sikhs over his role in fake encounters and torturing Sikhs.

On 16 February 1990, KCF, BTFK (Sangha), BKI, and SSF collectively claimed responsibility for an explosion in Phillaur that killed Inspector Harcharan Singh Soori and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ram Moorti on the 11th. The bomb also wounded 2 Sergeants. The explosion happened in an armoured and guarded police training facility. Both were put in a special armoured room for extra safety, but were killed at 9 pm from an explosion within their room. Both officers had been accused of torturing Sikhs. Inspector Soori had survived a previous assassination attempt in 1988.

On 2 March 1990, KCF, KLF, BKI, and SSF collectively claimed responsibility for killing 1 Sergeant and 1 Constable of Punjab Police in Nagoke for alleged "misdeeds".

On 24 November 1990, at 9 am Budhsinghwala along with other militant groups part of the Sohan Singh Committee killed Superintendent of Police (Operations) Harjit Singh in a bomb blast at Tarn Taran. Sikh militants had been studying Harjit's travel routes for some time. A remote-controlled bomb had been placed on a road Harjit usually drove by to go to the doctor. When Harjit's lead security vehicles drove by and it was just his vehicle over the bomb it was detonated. In the explosion three of his security guards were killed and his vehicle was destroyed. A permanent curfew was put on the town after. A saying about the incident is, "He had a security vehicle in front of him and behind him, so he would be safe from all sides. But he didn’t count on his death coming from below". Twenty-two days prior to his death Harjit had killed the chief of BTFK (S) Sukhwinder Singh Sangha along with four other militants. KLF, KCF, Babbar Khalsa, SSF, and BTFK (S) members held a meeting afterward pledging to kill Harjit within 31 days of Sangha's death. Major Singh of KCF was given the lead role in the killing.

On 27 December 1990, D.S.P. of Patiala Sujit Singh along with his wife and two guards were killed by Budhsinghwala.

On 9 October 1991, Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Joginder Singh Kherawas killed by KLF and BTFK. Khera was ambushed in Ropar. Khera was one of the leading officers in the Punjab Police force. He was killed with nine commandos.

On 1 April 1992, Superintendent of Police (Operations) of Ludhiana R.S Tiwana was killed by Budhsinghwala in a remote-controlled bomb blast. His daughter and two others were also killed in the blast.

On 28 September 1990, KCF, KLF, BKI, and SSF claimed responsibility for killing Inspector Rajinderpal Singh.

Killing of police informants On 16 March 1990, KLF, SSF, BKI, and KCF claimed responsibility for killing a police informant named Bhagwant Singh who was involved in over 50 killings. He was also a key associate of Gobind Ram.

On 6 April. 1990, KLF claimed responsibility for killing Amrik Singh Jaura, a Nihang, and his gunmen near Tarn Taran for their involvement in killing militant Sukhdev Singh Sakhira. He was chief of a faction of Buddha Dal after Santa Singh's excommunication.

On 23 November 1990, KCF, KLF, BKI, BTFK, and SSF claimed responsibility for killing Congress president of Jalandhar district, Gurdarshan Singh. They claimed he was a police informant involved in the killing of militants.

Assassination of politicians On 5 May 1989, Budhsinghwala and fellow KLF militants killed Congress leader and MLA Sat Pal Parashar. He had recently been elected to Ludhiana North Constituency.

On 14 May 1990, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of SGPC, was attacked in his car. A jeep with about six militants drove beside Tohra's vehicle and opened fire. An escort car attempted to chase them but they escaped. Tohra managed to survive but was injured. Tohra's bodyguard was also injured. Tohra's driver was killed and so was former MLA H.S. Rajla who was accompanying Tohra. Budhsinghwala, Paramjit Singh Panjwar of Khalistan Commando Force, Sukhdev Singh Babbar of Babbar Khalsa, and Daljit Singh of the All India Sikh Student Federation collectively claimed responsibility. They said he was attacked for his involvement in Operation Blue Star.

On 11 July 1990, Budhsinghwala killed former Punjab Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Balwant Singh.

Budhsinghwala killed vice-president of the Punjab Congress party Lala Bhagwan Das along with his bodyguards.

Attack on Suboht Kant Sahay On 7 June 1991, BTFK (Sangha), KLF, KCF (Panjwar), and SSF claimed responsibility for an assassination attempt on India's Home Minister Subodh Kant Sahay in Ludhiana. The militants made a bomb attack on his convoy. Sahay's bulletproof vehicle flipped over, but he escaped with minor wounds. His driver and 1 bodyguard were seriously wounded. Some key people among the dead excluding Rajiv Gandhi was the bomber Kalaivani Rajaratnam, K. S. Mohammed Iqbal who was a SP, Munuswamy who was former member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council, and Santhani Begum the head of Mahila Congress. The main plot of the assassination was done by LTTE. Budhsinghwala was involved in the plot to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi and helped with planning, logistical support, and tactical support.

Attack on RSS

On the morning of 25 June 1989 KLF and BTFK members attacked Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members at their 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. According to survivors bullets were sprayed on everyone. They then left the scene. 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.

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

On 3 August 1989, under Budhsinghwala Kulwant Singh, a senior KLF member, and another killed Charan Das. Das was the head of a heterodox Dalit Sikh group and had been accused of blasphemy of Guru Granth Sahib.

Three days later on 16 September 1989, Manish Karma, son of SP Des Raj, would be kidnapped by Budhsinghwala to secure the release of Khalistan Liberation Force members. Manishu was let go in exchange for the release of Budhsinghwala's allies 3 or 4 days after being captured.

On 9 October 1991, Budhsignhwala along with Bhindranwale Tiger Force, Khalistan Commando Force, and the Sikh Students Federation kidnapped Romanian charge d’affaires Lividu Radu. 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. 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 kill Radu if their demands weren't met by 19 October. The deadline passed, but Sikh militants did not harm Radu. The Indian government refused to meet any of the Sikh's demands. Radu was kept in Delhi until 27 October. He was then moved to Punjab by car. On 25 November Radu was released unharmed after 48 days.

On 26 October 1991, R. N. Goyal, Chief Health Officers Ludhiana, Bachitar Singh Director Health Services Punjab, and 5 others were killed by KCF, KLF, BTFK, BKI, and SSF. They claimed that the doctors had discriminated against Sikhs, and aided the police in extrajudicial killings.

Wanted for Budhsinghwala was responsible for the killings of over 1,000 people including key police officers and politicians. At the time of his death, he was wanted in 37 cases of assassination.

A two-day general strike was started in Chandigarh by all Akali Dal factions to protest against the killing of Budhsinghwala. According to police it had, "…paralysed life in six districts."

After Budhsinghwala's death, Pritam Singh Sekhon succeeded him as head of the KLF.