Battle of Babeli

On the night of 31 August 1923, a group of 18 Babbar Akalis in Babeli village took shelter in the house of their associate Shiv Singh Chahal.[1] Anup Singh, one of the Babbars, betrayed the Babbars; he told the British police to destroy all of the party's ammunition with the exception of the gun Karam Singh carried with him.[2] A contingent of 2,200 British soldiers and policemen under the command of Mr. Smith encircled the village next morning.[3]

The four Babbars were fighting near Gurudwara Chaunta Sahib.[4] Mr Smith challenged them that he will have them arrested alive before 12 O'Clock. The Babbars refused to surrender and replied "What good was taking you who have brought a posse of 2000 soldiers just to arrest four men. We will not be caught by you alive".[3][5] Udai Singh and Mohinder Singh were killed by gunshots while Bishen Singh managed to crawl towards the Gurudwara in wounded state but eventually died due to the loss of blood.[3][1] The 2,200 soldiers and officers all attacked Karam Singh who was killed.[6] The British had suffered heavy casualties by just 4 Sikhs.

Immediately after the killings, the bodies of the four Babbars were brought under a huge tree in the village and a post mortem was conducted on the site.[1]

• Babbar Akali Movement
• Martyrdom and Sikhism