FATEHGARH SAHEB: Indian security forces deployed in strength around this historic Gurdwara prevented more than 50000 Sikhs from joining the last prayer service in memory of Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani of Khalistan Commando Force who died in an encounter at Mohali last week

On a direction from Punjab’s police governor the Patiala district authorities imposed section 144 in the area prohibiting the assembly of four or more persons requisitioned thousands of men of India’s Border Security Force and the Punjab police to enforce the ban.

A call for the last rites ceremony at Fatehgarh Saheb was issued by the Anandpur Saheb conclave of Sikhs. However the State Govt opposed the Sikh move on the ground that it amounted to glorifying an anti-India rebel responsible for killing more than 1000 security forces men and others. The Patiala police chief objected to the ceremony being performed in Batial district as “Rajasthani was neither born nor brought up in Patiala district”.

Despite those official moves more than 50000 Sikhs from all directions made a beeline to the Gurdwara. They used cars trucks tractor-trailors scooters even bicycles reach to reach the destination many were walking to the place.

But the security forces’ determination to prevent the last rites service was so strong that no Sikh could reach the spot after the morning of the scheduled day September 9. Only about 400 Sikhs who reached there on the previous night could attend the ceremony performed by the Gurdwara head Granthi Bhai Jaswinder Singh. No relations of Bhai Rajasthani were present. The slain leader’s widow and his three-yr-old son are in police custody.

A group of newsmen witnessed a posse of armed force of 10almost at a distance of every 100 yards along the 13 mile route between Morinda and Fatehgarh Saheb. According to Sikh groups the Indian forces had put up barricades at about 60 places (to prevent Bhai Rajasthani’s admirers from joining the prayer service) around the Gurdwara and on the roads leading to the Venue. The entire area gave the appearance of being curfew-bound although only section 144 was in force officially.

Among those stopped from proceeding to the place where the various faction leaders such as Parkash Singh Badal Ajit Singh Bains General Narinder Singh Chandoomajra Doomsheri etc. In addition SGPC chief Baldev Singh Sibia too was not allowed to go to the Gurdwara. Most of them group leaders “detained” at Morinda. They sat in on the road to protest against the police action. Badal was detained at Bassi Pathanan.

The State government’s orders to the police were so indiscriminate that even patients wanting to go to Fatehgarh Saheb hospital were not allowed to move. Students had to go on a forced leave as the authorities closed down all educational institutions at Fatehgarh Saheb. The police snatched a camera from Punjabi Tribune reporter Ish Kumar who wanted to take a few snaps of the police arrangements A Granthi had to recite gurbani for several hours at a stretch because other Granthi to replace him were not permitted inside the Gurdwara. Nearly 80 truckloads of material meant for construction of the Gurdwara extension arranged by Bhai Harbans Singh were also stopped by the police outside the place.

Of the 400 inmates a good number of women joined the last prayer. Bhai Jaswinder Singh prayed to the almighty to grant peace to the soul of the departed Sikh leader Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani.

Evidently the State Govt authorities learnt a lesson from the prayer service held at Jattana a day earlier in memory of Bhai Balwinder Singh Jattana and his relations killed by the Chandigarh police cats. More than 10000 Sikhs attended the ceremony. The Govt was keen to ensure that not many Sikhs should join the Fatehgarh Saheb service.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 13, 1991