Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan | |
---|---|
Leader | Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1984–1993) Sukhwinder Singh Sangha (1990) Rashpal Singh Chhandran (1990–1992) Balwinder Singh (1993) Rattandeep Singh (1993–1990s) |
Dates of operation | 1984–1990s |
Motives | The creation of a Sikh independent state of khalistan in Punjab, as well as some districts of neighboring states of India. |
Active regions | India |
Ideology | Sikh nationalism |
Status | Not Active |
The Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK) is a Sikh militant organization and was one of several major separatist organizations in the Khalistan movement during the insurgency in Punjab, India. The BTFK's main aim was to establish a Sikh homeland called Khalistan. At its peak, the BTFK's membership totaled 500 members and remained the strongest pro-Khalistan group in Tarn Taran Sahib, which was the epicenter of violence during the Punjab insurgency.
It was formed in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. In 1990, it split into two factions under the leadership of Sukhwinder Singh Sangha and Manochahal. [1] After Manochahal's death, the BTFK seem to have disbanded or splintered into factions. [2] It was listed in 1995 as one of the 4 "major militant groups " in the Khalistan movement. [3]
Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan had two main factions, one led by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and the other faction led by Sukhwinder Singh Sangha. [1]
The BTF was a Sikh group fighting for an independent Sikh homeland. [4] Based in the state of Punjab, India, the BTF was described as one of the major Sikh revolutionary groups and reportedly the strongest revolutionary group in the Amritsar-Tarn Taran area. [5]
According to Cynthia Keppley Mahmood, who previously was a professor in Anthropology at University of Maine in Orono with expertise on Sikh revolutionary groups in Punjab, the BTF was founded in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, who was also head of the original Panthic Committee (30 December 1994). Manochal broke away from the original Panthic Committee to continue his independent command of the BTF after his leadership of the Panthic was challenged in 1988. [5] Manochal also maintained his own Panthic Committee for a while but was killed in 1991 or 1992. [5] Keppley Mahmood also indicated that membership of the BTF numbered in the hundreds at one point, and the BTF was considered among the most dangerous of the guerilla forces (30 December 1994). Keppley Mahmood noted that "relations" of suspected members were targeted by police and paramilitary personnel and much of the original force had been decimated. [5] Furthermore, Keppley Mahmood suggests that members of the BTF were scattered all over, but no one knows how many are left or whether there is a clear leader at this point. [5] Keppley Mahmood was unable to comment on the treatment of members of the BTF by the authorities upon their return to India, but noted that since the BTF has been a major target of counter-terrorism efforts, she would expect the reception of any known member to be "drastic". [5]
In the year 1991, Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan along with Khalistan Liberation Force and Dr. Sohan Singh (Head of Panthic Committee) etc. participated in the secret peace negotiations with India in the city of Ludhiana. These meetings were initiated by Union Minister of State for Home Subodh Kant Sahay on the orders of the then Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar. It is said that this peace effort was sabotaged by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence. [6] Former Indian Intelligence Bureau Joint Director, Maloy Krishna Dhar stated in a press report published by The Hindu, that "Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her ISI advisers were determined not to let peace succeed. [6] Pakistan's covert war in Jammu and Kashmir had exploded in 1990, and its establishment understood that the Punjab conflict tied down our troops, and threatened our logistical lines into Jammu and Kashmir."
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was killed by the police on 1 March 1993. [7] [8] According to a 30 March 1993 UPI report, Balwinder Singh was appointed as BTF chief after Manochahal's death.
Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan was found to be active in state of Punjab in the year of 1997. [9]
Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kuki was a Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan member. [10]
India arrested some of the Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan members in the year of 1999 as well. [11]
The Khalistan movement is an independence movement seeking to create a separate homeland for Sikhs by establishing an ethno‐religious sovereign state called Khalistan in the Punjab region. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary between different groups; some suggest the entirety of the Sikh-majority Indian state of Punjab, while larger claims include Pakistani Punjab and other parts of North India such as Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Shimla and Lahore have been proposed as the capital of Khalistan.
Babbar Khalsa also known as Babbar Khalsa International, is a Khalistani militant organisation that aims to create an independent nation-state of Khalistan in the Punjab region of South Asia. It has used armed attacks, assassinations and bombings in aid of that goal, and is deemed to be a terrorist entity by various governments. Besides India, it operates in North America and Europe, including Scandinavia.
Talwinder Singh Parmar was a Sikh militant and the mastermind of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, which killed 329 people. It was the worst single incident of aviation terrorism in history until the September 11 attacks in the United States. In addition, another bomb was meant to explode aboard Air India Flight 301 in Japan the same day, but it exploded while the plane was still grounded, killing two people. Parmar was also the founder, leader, and Jathedar of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), better known as Babbar Khalsa, a Sikh militant group involved in the Khalistan movement.
The Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) is a Sikh Khalistani militant organisation operating in the state of Punjab, India with prominent members based in Canada, United Kingdom and Pakistan. Its objective is the creation of a Sikh independent state of Khalistan through armed struggle. KCF is also responsible for many assassinations in India, including the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. It is designated as a Terrorist Organisation by the Government of India.
The Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) is a Khalistani militant organisation operating in the Punjab with prominent members based in Canada, United Kingdom and Pakistan. Its objective is the creation of a sovereign Sikh nation‐state of Khalistan through armed struggle. It is responsible for numerous assassinations, abductions, and military engagements with the Indian Armed Forces during the Insurgency in Punjab. The KLF is also listed as a designated terrorist group by India.
Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar was the militant and co-leader of Babbar Khalsa (BK), a Sikh militant organisation involved in the pursuit of creating a Sikh nation named as "Khalistan" and generally believed responsible for the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, although Sukhdev was never named as being involved. BK was founded by Talwinder Singh Parmar, himself, and Amarjit Kaur. He commanded BK continuously for 14 years until he was killed in 1992. He was a member of the AKJ.
The Dashmesh Regiment is a militant group, and is part of the Khalistan movement to create a Sikh homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle.
Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, best known as General Labh Singh and also known as Sukha Sipahi and just Labh Singh, was a former Punjab police officer turned militant who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru, was arrested in 1986.
Bhai Manbir Singh Chaheru Also known as General Hari Singh was the Indian founder and first leader of the Freedom fighter's organisation Khalistan Commando Force.
From 1984 to 1995, the state of Punjab in northern India was engaged in a power struggle between the militant secessionist Khalistan movement and Indian security forces. The Indian government responded to the escalating Punjab insurgency by launching Operation Blue Star in 1984, storming the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple complex in Amritsar—the center of Sikh religious and spiritual life, where some militant groups had retreated. The Operation was controversial and resulted in death of hundreds of civilians, militants and soldiers. After Sikh bodyguards assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a state wide massacre ensued.
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib who founded the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan in 1984.
Bhai Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala was a Sikh separatist and the third Jathedar of the Khalistan Liberation Force. Budhsinghwala's organization, KLF, was one of the most active and main Sikh separatist 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.
Gurdev Singh Kaunke was a Sikh priest who served as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht from 1986 to 1993.
Jugraj Singh, better known as Toofan Singh, was a militant member of the Khalistan Liberation Force who was born in 1971 in Sri Hargobindpur, Punjab, India. According to police records, he was allegedly involved in 150 killings. He was killed in an encounter with police on 8 April 1990.
The Sarbat Khalsa of 1986 was one congregation of the Guru Khalsa Panth, including the Damdami Taksal, Akal Takht, Panthic Committee (Manochahal), Panthic Committee (Zaffarwal), Kharku Sikhs, Tarna Dal (Hariabelan), Tarna Dal, Bidhi Chand Dal and the Shiromani Budha Dal.
Gurdeep Singh Deepa Heran Wala, commonly known as just Gurdeep Singh Deepa, was a revolutionary and the Jalandhar area commander and deputy chief of Khalistan Commando Force. By the time of his death, Gurdeep Singh Deepa was wanted in 217 killings and 37 robberies of vehicles.
Sukhwinder Singh Sangha was a Sikh militant (kharku), the head of a faction of Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan during the insurgency in Punjab, India.
On 3 October 1986, militants from the Khalistan Commando Force, led by Labh Singh, made an attempt on the life of Director General of Police in Punjab, India, Julio Ribeiro in Jalandhar within the Punjab Armored Police headquarters. Ribeiro was wounded in the attack along with his wife. Ribeiro's wounds were minor, but his wife was hospitalized. 2 officers were killed and 2 were seriously wounded in the attack. All the attackers escaped unhurt.
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