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Toofan Singh

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Toofan Singh
Born
Jugraj Singh

1971
Sri Hargobindpur, Punjab, India
Died8 April 1990
Sri Hargobindpur, Punjab, India
Years active1987-1990
OrganizationKhalistan Liberation Force
Known forKhalistani militancy

Jugraj Singh (1971 – 8 April 1990), better known as Toofan Singh, was a militant member of the Khalistan Liberation Force who was born in 1971 in Sri Hargobindpur, Punjab, India.[1][2][3] According to police records, he was allegedly involved in 150 killings. He was killed in an encounter with police on 8 April 1990.[4]

Biography

Born in 1971 as Jugraj Singh in Cheema village of Punjab. He had 5 sisters and was the only son of his parents. He took amrit at 6 and would regularly read Gurbani and do Simran. He would read about Sikh history commonly and was known for being soft-spoken and well mannered.[5]

Militancy

In 1984, he was emotionally affected by the news of Operation Blue Star. He began to believe that he has to do something about the alleged atrocities against Sikhs. In his younger days, he spent some days in the Nabha Jail. In the jail, he met with Manbir Singh Chaheru and Baldev Singh. Baldev Singh told Jugraj that he should avoid getting into these fights since he is the only son of his family, however, Jugraj would not change his path.[6]

In 1987 Toofan Singh broke out of Hoshiarpur Jail,[7] and came into contact with Avtar Singh Brahma the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force and he would fight under him. Toofan Singh's name first appeared in the complaint registered to Punjab Armed Police Headquarters concerning the murder of police officer Gobind Ram as the major perpetrator. On one hand Singh had support from Sikh society, and on other hand police forces would continue trailing him.[8]

In 1988 Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala took over KLF.[9] He made Toofan Singh Lieutenant General of KLF.[7] He would later rise to Deputy Chief of KLF.[10]

Toofan Singh was said to have provided protection to the villagers from attacks and extortion by criminal gangs, and the police.[11][12]

Explosion

In a meeting with top KLF leaders, including Budhsinghwala and Navroop Singh, in Sri Hargobindpur Toofan Singh took responsibility for an explosion at a liquor store in Batala. 15 people were killed, 50 were injured, 4 shops were blown up, and 1 van was blown up in the explosion.[13]

Attacks on police

At Sri Hargobindpur Toofan Singh and 5 others attacked a police party on 1 November 1988. In the attack 1 Sergeant was wounded, and 1 Constable was also wounded.[14]

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.[14]

On 16 November 1989, Toofan Singh, Sukhdev Singh Babbar, and other Kharkus of BKI and KLF claimed responsibility for killing a Congress Politician's gunman, a police sergeant, near Batala for killing Babbar Khalsa member Gurnam Singh in a false encounter.[15]

On 16 November 1989, Toofan Singh, Sukhdev Singh Babbar, and other Kharkus of BKI and KLF claimed responsibility for attacking two police stations near Jhanda.[15]

Toofan Singh was held responsible for the killing of BSF Deputy Commandant Davinder Singh and Assistant Commandant Lachman Singh.[16]

Toofan Singh killed 6 Black Cat commandos in Dand Manesh.[17]

Killing Commandant Gobind Ram

Commandant Gobind Ram was killed on 10 January 1990, 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 and the killing was done by Toofan Singh and Babbar Khalsa members. 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 Sikh militants over his alleged role in fake encounters and torturing Sikhs.[18][19][20][21][22]

Various actions

Toofan Singh killed a thief named Hari Singh and also killed another Balwinder Singh Billa who looted dead bodies near Sri Hargobindpur.[17]

Toofan Singh killed one Dr. Veer Singh of Cheem Khudi who would extorted people posing as a member of Khalistan Liberation Force.[17]

On 20 October 1989, Toofan Singh in a joint statement with Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Kanwarjit Singh of Khalistan Commando Force claimed responsibility for looting Rahi Butari’s police station of 7 .303 Bore Rifles, 1 Stengun, 300 cartridges, and a helmet. They also claimed responsibility for an attack on a police outpost in Sakhowal and after exploding the outpost with a bomb. In the attack 1 officers was killed and 5 wounded. Toofan and the others further claimed responsibility for exploding a BSF vehicle with a mine in Rasulpur injuring 6 BSF men.[23]

Death

On 8 April 1990, Singh was killed in a village near Hargobindpur, after police and BSF surrounded his home. According to police records, he was allegedly involved in 150 killings.[24] Director General of Police K. P. S. Gill dubbed it as the biggest accomplishment of police the whole year.[7] At the time Toofan Singh had a reward of 100,000 rupees on his head.[16]

Police refused to return Toofan’s dead body. Because of this 20,000 people surrounded Hargobindpur police headquarters demanding the body be handed over. The police complied.[25]

On the day of his cremation it is estimated that almost 400,000 people were gathered to pay him the last tribute.[26][27][6] Darshan Lal Chopra, head of BJP in Hargobindpur, attended the cremation and praised Toofan who he said, "died fighting against an oppressive government."[28]

Legacy

Singh was considered as a local martyr of the Khalistan movement[29]

In 2017, an Indian biographical film based on the life of Singh was released, titled Toofan Singh. The Indian Central Board of Film Certification later banned the film.[30]

References

  1. ^ "Censor declines to clear 'Toofan Singh'". www.hindustantimes.com. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ^ Indian Defence Review, p. 7, Lancer International, 1990
  3. ^ Judge, Paramjit S. (2005). Religion, Identity, and Nationhood: The Sikh Militant Movement. Rawat Publications. p. 228.
  4. ^ Violence and Terrorism in South Asia: Chronology and Profiles, 1971-2004, Moonis Ahmar, Bureau of Composition, Compilation & Translation Press, University of Karachi, 2005, p.164
  5. ^ Singh, Harjinder (2008). Game of Love. Akaal Publishers. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-9554587-1-2.
  6. ^ a b "कौन था तूफान सिंह, जिस पर बनी पंजाबी फिल्म को सेंसर ने किया बैन". aajtak.intoday.in. 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Dang, Satyapal (2000). Terrorism in Punjab. Gyan Publishing House. p. 177. ISBN 978-81-212-0659-4.
  8. ^ "कौन था तूफान सिंह, जिस पर बनी पंजाबी फिल्म को सेंसर ने किया बैन". 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Death report exaggerated". The Independent. London. 29 August 1992. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  10. ^ Puri, Harish K.; Judge, Paramjit S.; Sekhon, Jagrup Singh (1999). Terrorism in Punjab: Understanding Grassroots Reality. Har-Anand Publications. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-241-0619-8.
  11. ^ "Caught in a Trap". Economic and Political Weekly. 25 (24/25): 1292–1293. 1990. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4396390.
  12. ^ World Sikh News 6 July 1990 Punjabi Page 5
  13. ^ "ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਲਈ". Ajit.
  14. ^ a b "Des Pardes Weekly - December 16 1988". www.panjabdigilib.org. pp. 5, 12. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b "ਵਾਰਦਾਤਾਂ". Ajit (Jalandhar). 16 November 1989. p. 7.
  16. ^ a b "Des Pardes - April 14". www.panjabdigilib.org. p. 139. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ^ a b c World Sikh News 6 July 1990 Punjabi Page 5
  18. ^ "Bomb kills Punjab police commander, three others". UPI. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  19. ^ Raman, B. "Who will mourn our martyrs?". Rediff. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Security forces continue to transgress law in Punjab". India Today. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  21. ^ Bhatnagar, Ved (1998). Challenges to India's Integrity: Terrorism, Casteism, Communalism. Rawat Publications. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-81-7033-442-2.
  22. ^ Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley (3 August 2010). Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-8122-0017-1.
  23. ^ 20 October 1989 Page 2 World Sikh News (Punjabi)
  24. ^ Indian Defence Review. Lancer International. 1990. p. 8. Jugraj was alleged to have committed about 150 killings
  25. ^ Singh, Harjinder (2008). Game of Love. Akaal Publishers. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-9554587-1-2.
  26. ^ Sandhu, Kanwar (30 June 1990). "New Punjab governor assumes charge amidst chaos". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  27. ^ "इसके अंतिम यात्रा में जुटे थे चार लाख से ज्यादा लाेग, धोखे से हुआ था एनकाउंटर". Dainik Bhaskar. 16 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  28. ^ Dang, Satyapal (2000). Terrorism in Punjab. Gyan Publishing House. p. 177. ISBN 978-81-212-0659-4.
  29. ^ Ethnic Rural And Gender Issues In Contemporary North-West. Anamika Pub & Distributors. 2005. p. 78. ISBN 9788179750209. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  30. ^ Sharma, Dishya (24 August 2017). "Prasoon Joshi bans Toofan Singh: Here's all you need to know about the controversial Punjabi movie". International Business Times, India Edition. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
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