CHANDIGARH: Gurdip Singh Sibia, a U.K.-based engineer who said he was associated with Babbar Khalsa International, surrendered to Punjab chief minister Beant Singh at a dramatic public function here on Aug.10 and made a long speech pleading for an end to the current armed struggle for Khalistan.

In a special report to WSN, Babbar Khalsa Int. leaders, Bhai Mahal Singh Babbar and Jaswinder Singh Babbar said, “We don’t disown this person, but, what he has said is his own version. BK] as an organization stands for the struggle for a free Khalistan. This individual was picked up by the police on May 23, 1992 in New Delhi. Since then he has been both physically and mentally tortured.

Police have had him call BKI leaders under their instructions.” According to the BKI leadership, conversations that they have had with the suspect lead them to believe that he did not want BKI involved in his case. But because he fears death at the hands of police he has apparently cooperated in exchange for revealing inside information about  the panthic organization. BKI feels that he is speaking the govt line that has been given to him. It is ironic and suspicious that he was produced after the death of Bhai Sukhdev Singh especially since he has been held captive for so long. This gives credence to the probability that he is part of a plan to use the gap left by the death of the former leader,

BKI secretary, Daljit Singh Babbar called WSN, saying that, “in the past the suspect was a loyal BKI member who had been obviously tortured and brainwashed into giving incriminating statements to bring down the morale of Khalistan supporters.” .

 The BKI also informed WSN that they are strongly considering who will be appointed the new leader, That person will probably be named in a matter of days. Sibia said his other name is S.S. Bhatti. He joined the B.K.I, in 1985 in the U.K., “worked” for the organization in more than 20 countries including Pakistan and procured weapons for the Sikh underground movement through Gujarat. He belonged to Moga and was married and has three children. About 35, Sibia was calm and confident. He delivered the speech in Chaste Punjabi, His audience mostly comprised Congress-I-men including ministers, legislators and media persons. A special shamiana had been put upon the lawns of the Punjab Bhavan here. Hindu Congress(I) men punctuated the former’s militant’s speech with “Beant Singh, Zindabad,” “Shore-Punjab, Beant Singh, Zindabad.”

The former B.K.I. activist said that no foreign country had come to the support of Sikhs. He said he had spent more than 30 months in Pakistan and had extensive talks with “chaudharis” (Pakistan’s intelligence-men) who extended all facilities to leaders of the various militant out fit but were reluctant to lend any political support to Khalistan. They were willing to supply arms to cause disruption rather than form Khalistan, It was different with the Kashmir struggle which was not only being helped militarily but also politically. There was no question of Rawalpindi launching a war on India to help Sikhs achieve their aims.

The former B.K.I, activist also said that Afghanistan too would NO the help either Kashmiris or Sikhs. In the changed world order, no help could be expected from cither the U.S.A. or the U.K. On the other hand, these countries were accusing Sikhs of terrorism and were threatening to call Pakistan a terrorist county for whatever little help it gave to Sikhs,

In the circumstances, the Sikhs had no alternative to putting an end to their anger, holding talks and coming to terms with Delhi and returning to “mainstream,” Moreover, he said, Sikhs living in India had altogether different perception than the Sikhs living in foreign countries,

Most Sikhs were prosperous, had a monopoly of transport business and owned Maruti cars, He said he was all for Khalistan but the future of Sikhs living in India could not be jeopardized,

It is believed that Sibia was brought to Chandigarh by Indian Intelligence Bureau men. He was later whisked away by Beant Singh in his official car.

Punjab police chief K-P.S. Gill who during the surrender ceremony had a low-key presence later sat in Beant Singh’s car to leave for an undisclosed destination.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992