ਅੱਜ ਤੋਂ ਪੂਰੇ 36 ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ {13 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ
1978 ਨੂੰ } ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਦੀ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਧਰਤੀ 'ਤੇ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਹਿ 'ਤੇ
ਨਕਲੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੀ { ਨਰਕਧਾਰੀ } ਗੁਰਬਚਨੇ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੰਡਾਲ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਨ
ਤੇ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਝੂਠਾ ਭੰਡੀ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਖ
ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਇਸ ਕੂੜ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਅਮਰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਾਈ ਫੌਜਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ
ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਪਾਪੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨੇ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਾਂਤਮਈ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਜਦੋਂ
ਸਮਝਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ, ਤਾਂ ਨਰਕਧਾਰੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨੇ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਈਵੇਟ ਫੌਜ ਤੇ ਅਖੌਤੀ
ਪੰਥਕ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੇ ਅੰਨੇਵਾਹ ਗੋਲੀਆਂ ਚਲਾਕੇ, ਭਾਈ ਫੌਜਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮੇਤ 13 ਸਿੰਘਾਂ
ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਤੇ ਵੱਡੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਖਮੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
ਪਰ ਅੱਜ ਸਾਡੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਦੀ ਬਦਕਿਸਮਤੀ ਇਹ ਹੈ
ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਦੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾ ਮਹਾਨ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਮਨੋ ਵਿਸਾਰੀ ਬੈਠੇ ਹਾਂ।
ਇਹਨਾਂ ਮਹਾਨ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਸਾਡੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਸਥਾਂ, ਨਾ ਹੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਦੀ
ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਸਾਡਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਅਫਸੋਸ...
੧੩ ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ੧੯੭੮ ਦੀ ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ੧੩ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਿਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਦਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਕਤ ਨਕਲੀ
ਨਿੰਰਕਾਰੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨੇ ਨੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ, ਦਾ ਡੁੱਲਿਆ ਖੂਨ ਸਾਥੋਂ ਜੁਆਬ
ਮੰਗਦਾ, ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖੋ ਅਸੀਂ ਦੇਹਧਾਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਡੰਮਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੋਲੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੋਏ, ਪਰ ਤੁਸੀਂ
ਅੱਜ ਦੇਹਧਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਾੜੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਭੇਡਾਂ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਗ ਲਾ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ
...... ਕੀ ਸਾਡੀ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਮੁਲ ਪਾਇਆ ?
On 13th April 1978 the Akhand Kirtani Jatha
gathered together from all over India at Amritsar to hold their yearly
Vaisakhi Smagam. Kirtan had started from Amrit Vela and at about 10
o'clock a message was received. The message said that the followers of
Nakali Nirankari Gurbachan Singh were holding a procession in Amritsar
and were shouting slogans against the Satguru and shouting insults
against the Sikh religion.
All the Sikh Sangat knew very well that the Nakali Nirankaris had been
doing these things for the past few years. The Nirankaris had given
degrading names to some GurSikhs including Mata Tripta Ji, Bhai Gurdas
Ji, Bibi Nanaki Ji, Baba Budha Ji, Bhai Lalo Ji, Bhagat Kabir Ji. They
called the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji a bundle of papers, and they called
Kar Sewa, Bikar Sewa. The Nakali Nirankari leader said that Guru Gobind
Singh Ji had made 5 Panj Pyarai, I shall make 7. Once he had even dared
to place his foot on the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Bhai Fauja Singh heard the news from the loudspeaker when he was
kneading the dough for the langar. He washed his hands and rushed to the
congregation. He delivered a short speech, explaining the dire situation
and drew a line, asking for those who are willing to receive martyrdom
to cross it. Bhai Joginder Singh Talwara asked children and women not to
go. However many "Bibian" still insisted on going. After performing
Ardas, the Gursikhs bowed before the Satguru and went off to Ramdas
Niwas.
Upon reaching Ramdas Niwas they found that the procession had finished.
The Gursikhs then decided that they should go to the place where the
Nirankaris had gathered and do a peaceful protest against the insults
shouted at the Satguru. It is known that some of the Sikhs of the Akhand
Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha reached the Reego Bridge near Gobind
Gar, where they were stopped by the police authorities. The Singhs told
the police about the insults shouted at the Sikh Gurus and the Sikh
Religion in the procession, and which were being shouted at their
gathering, which was taking place at that time. These insults could be
heard clearly from where they were standing. They told the police that
they wanted to do a protest against the organisers of the gathering
about the shouting of these insults. A police officer told the Singhs
that he would go and stop the Nirankaris and for them to remain there.
The police officer went to where the Nirankaris
had gathered and the Sikhs waited for 30 minutes for him to return. On
his return there were more policemen with him. Joshi D.S.P told the
Jatha of Singhs to go back and that the meeting had finished a long time
ago. But at that time violence provoking speeches could be heard on the
loudspeakers. Then about 5-6000 uniformed Nirankaris rushed towards the
200-300 Singhs carrying rifles, guns, spears, swords, bow and arrows,
sticks and within seconds attacked with stones, acid bottles, hand-made
bombs, firing their guns and throwing spears. The Singhs that were hit
with bullets fell on the ground and were butchered with swords, spears
and axes. When the ground became covered with bodies of the dead and
wounded, the police fired tear gas, but even that was towards the Jatha
of Singhs, so the Nirankaris received even more help and the Singhs
received even more injuries.
Bhai Fauja Singh was fired upon by the Superintendent of Police, who
emptied his 32-calibre pistol into Bhai Fauja Singh`s chest. These were
not the only bullets he was to receive that day, but he kept standing,
uttering only "Waheguru". Two Sikhs attempted to carry the still
breathing and chanting Bhai Fauja Singh to the hospital for treatment,
but those two were arrested by the Police. Bhai Fauja Singh`s body was
taken by the Police and put into the "Dead Wagon". Again, another Sikh
came upon Bhai Fauja Singh and found him breathing and still uttering "Waheguru".
He attempted to help, but half an hour later, when Bibi Amarjit Kaur
arrived, Bhai Sahib had attained martyrdom.
The Eye Witness Account
of Dalbir Singh
Dalbir Singh was a former communist who had devoted himself to trade
union activities for more than a decade, and is one of many who believe
that the Nirankaris had fought the Sikhs with a pre-conceived plan. At
the time of the clash he was a correspondent of "The Tribune", based at
Amritsar.
"It was 13 April 1978 afternoon. I had returned home from a routine beat
of Amritsar. I was taking a nap after lunch when the telephone rang.
Someone, who refused to identify himself, told me that several persons
have been killed in a firing at the Nirankari convention. I rushed out
to the stadium at the railway colony. There were many dead bodies that
were strewn outside the venue of the convention. I did not yet know what
had happened. I wondered around and met Govind Singh, a son-in-law of
the Nirankari Guru, on the stage of the convention. Govind Singh first
led me to a tent in which there were many armed persons. He entered it
but immediately turned to lead me to another tent in which some
Nirankaris were chatting with Deputy Superintendent of Police. I
approached him and explained that I had seen some armed men who might
have been the killers. The officer, however, ignored this information.
The next day, the police searched the Nirankari center in Amritsar for
the killers and their weapons. They had let the killers scatter, when
they could still have been nearby, to catch scapegoats one day after the
incident."
Dalbir Singh maintains that the local administration had allowed the
main culprits to escape (Courtesy :Ram Narayan Kumar)
D.S.P Joshi was responsible for shooting Bhai Fauja Singh, and not
allowing any of the GurSikhs medical attention. Eventually the police
took the bodies of the "Shaheed Singhs" to the morgue, and some wounded
Singhs were taken to hospital.
The astonishing thing is that the gathering of the Nirankaris continued
for 3 and a half hours after this bloody massacre. It has also become
known that the D.C of Gurdaspur Naranjan Singh I.A.S and other senior
officers were present in the gathering during the killing of the unarmed
Singhs. It is clear that the authorities of the Amritsar district
allowed the Nakali Nirankaris to do the procession in the Sikhs main
city Amritsar on Vaisakhi. The authorities are guilty of allowing the
Nirankaris complete freedom and not dealing with them properly at the
right time, and they should have been punished accordingly.
The government did make a Panel of Doctors for the post mortem of the
dead bodies. It has become known that Mr Janjooha D.C ordered the post
mortems of some of the Singhs to be done only by one doctor and the
government orders were not carried out. The D.C was also involved with
the Nirankaris.
The press also printed the news details of the incident incorrectly. The
Singhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha were called
fanatics. Harbhajan Singh Yogi responded stating, "Today I read the
newspaper report in which it was said, ‘ a body of fanatic Sikhs’. If
doing kirtan and defending the good name of our father Guru Gobind Singh
Ji makes us fanatics, then we welcome this allegation. Remember, those
who do not defend the grace of their father are never worthy of respect
on the earth. These martyrs of Amritsar have shown us that we shall live
in grace; if it is not possible, we choose to die in grace."
The killing of the Jatha of Singhs by the Nirankari leader Gurbachan
Singh was a very big crime. We ask where did these acid bottles, bricks,
stones, guns, pistols, spears, swords and sticks come from? By giving
the order to kill the Singhs, the leader of the Nirankaris Gurbachan
Singh was the main guilty party of the bloody massacre and should have
been punished severely for this according to the law.
The funeral of the 13 Singhs took place on
Saturday 15 April 1978 in front of Gurdwara Siri Ramsar Sahib in front of a
large congregation of about 25-30,000 people. All the Shaheed GurSikhs
were cremated together.
Bhai Fauja Singh
s/o Surain Singh, Amritsar
Bhai Avtar Singh s/o Bhagwan Singh
Kuda Kurala, Hoshiarpur
Bhai Harbhajan Singh s/o Jagat
Singh, Bhattian, Gurdaspur
Bhai Piara Singh s/o Kishan Singh,
Bhungrani, Hoshiarpur
Bhai Raghbir Singh s/o Nawab Singh,
Bhagupur, Amritsar
Bhai Gurcharan Singh s/o Daleep
Singh, New Model Town, Ludhiana
Bhai Gurdial Singh s/o Sohan Singh,
Mode, Amritsar
Bhai Amrik Singh s/o Kundan Singh,
Khujala, Amritsar
Bhai Dharambir Singh s/o Lal Singh,
Ajeet Nagar, Amritsar
Bhai Kewal Singh s/o Amar Singh,
Prem Garh, Hoshiarpur
Bhai Hari Singh s/o Gurcharan Singh,
Kot Ralia Ram, Amritsar
Bhai Ranbir Singh
Fauji s/o Kala Singh, Thraj, Faridkot
Baba Darshan Singh s/o Achhar Singh
Ji, Mehtha, Amritsar
(Source: AKJ-UK)
