Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Kohli

All India Sikh Student Federation/ Babbar Khalsa

Bhai Amrik Singh was born in the year of 1965 in the house of Sardar Swaran Singh and from the womb of Mata Kulwant Kaur in the village of Jajiani, near Majhita. Bhai Sahib was the fourth eldest of two sisters and five brothers. Bhai Sahib’s family were Gursikhs and did farming. Bhai Sahib passed his 12th class in the year of 1986 from Vatala. Then Bhai Sahib received his BA degree from Guru Nanak College of Batala in 1989 and in 1990 Bhai Sahib passed his MA degree from Khalsa College of Amritsar. Bhai Sahib was very intelligent in his studies, from early childhood Bhai Sahib had take Amrit from the Panj Pyare. Bhai Sahib followed the strict code of conduct and also did Rauls of Sri Akhand Path Sahibs. Bhai Sahib was an honest and a hard working individual.

In 1986, Bhai Sahib enrolled himself for the Indian army after his family urged him to join many times. During his medical test, Bhai Sahib was asked to take off his Kirpan and Kachera, but Bhai Sahib did not tolerate this and kicked this job. During Bhai Sahib’s time at Guru Nanak College of Batala, Bhai Sahib was elected as President of the student union. Soon Bhai Sahib became an active member of All India Sikh Student Federation and later he was made the president of All India Sikh Student Federation Gurdaspur unit. Bhai Sahib had qualities of a good leader. While in federation , Bhai Sahib would not shy away from speaking the truth about the injustices the Indian Government are committing on the Sikhs and he also would go village to village giving out information booklets.

During the years in All India Sikh Student Federation, Bhai Sahib secretly supported the Jhujaru Singhs that were fighting on the battlefield. Due to this Bhai Sahib was regularly harassed by the Punjab Police. Bhai Sahib had been arrested many times and would be released after being tortured. In 1990, as Bhai Sahib was doing his MA degree he was arrested and for three months no one knew where Bhai Sahib was kept or if he was even alive. In the end Bhai Sahib was found in a cell of Majhita Police Station brutally tortured. Bhai Sahib’s family paid 60-70 thousand rupees in bribes to have Bhai Sahib released. After being tortured brutally for three months, Bhai Sahib made his mind up on leaving home and joining his Jhujaru brothers on the battlefield.

Bhai Sahib went underground and joined the freedom fighting group under the command of Bhai Kabal Singh Jalalpura. Bhai Sahib remained in high spirits and continued to do brave actions. Bhai Sahib did sewa with the Sikh Freedom Movement with full honesty. At first Bhai Sahib was stopped by his father from picking up weapons, but Bhai Sahib did not listen. Then Sardar Swaran Singh told his son, “son, if you want to do sewa in this movement then do it while remaining in high spirits, but remember to follow the Sikh code of conduct and don’t stain my turban”. Bhai sahib did exactly this, Bhai Sahib fought the battle according to the Sikh principles and never hurt or harassed any innocent person. Bhai Sahib found thieves, informants, gangsters and punished them accordingly. Bhai Sahib was surrounded by brave and fearless Jhujaru Singhs like Bhai Kuldeep Singh Chogwan, Bhai Kabal Singh Jalalpura, Bhai Daljit Singh Dhula, and Bhai Dharam Singh Keshtiwal.

In the early hours of 18th July 1992, Bhai Sahib along with fellow Jhujaru Singhs were having their Ishnan at the water tubal in the village of Kalowal, near Chogwan. Bhai Sahib saw a police jeep parked up nearby, Bhai Sahib and his fellow Jhujaru Singhs got their clothes on and started walking in the opposite directions from the police to avoid any confrontation. The Thanedar was taunting the Jhujaru Singhs and said, “I heard Singhs of Guru Gobind Singh don’t get scared?” Bhai Sahib told the Thanedar twice to mind his own business and let the Jhujaru Singhs do their stuff. In the end when the Thanedar did not listen, Bhai Sahib shot the Thanedar and killed him on the spot. After this the battle started between the two sides. Bhai Sahib had three bags of ammunition and in this encounter Bhai Sahib was with Bhai Kuldeep Singh Khyala of Chogawan village. During this battle Bhai Kuldeep Singh was separated from Bhai Sahib and later attained Shaheedi from the bulletproof tractor. Other Jhujaru Singhs had managed to escape only Bhai Sahib was left. Bhai Sahib would change his position and attack the enemy from many directions. The Indian security forces thought Bhai Sahib was with other Jhujaru Singhs due to Bhai Sahib changing directions and positions. In the end, when Bhai Sahib’s ammunition finished Bhai Sahib decided that he will not give the satisfaction to the enemy of killing him. Bhai Sahib turned his gun towards himself and shot himself and attained Shaheedi. The locals cremated Bhai Sahib at the grounds of Sitala Mandir. In Bhai sahib’s memory the village built a Gurudwara in the village of Ghyalay.

Information given by the family of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Kohli