Harmeet Singh (militant)

Harmeet Singh (September 24, 1981 – January 27, 2020) also known as PhD or Happy was the 8th chief of Khalistan Liberation Force.

Harmeet Singh
Preceded byHarminder Singh Nihang
Succeeded byAvtar Singh Khanda
Acting Jathedar of Khalistan Liberation Force
In office
November 7, 2014 – April 18, 2018
8th Jathedar of Khalistan Liberation Force
In office
April 18, 2018 – January 27, 2020
Personal details
Born(1981-09-24)24 September 1981
Chheherta, Amritsar India
Died27 January 2020(2020-01-27) (aged 38)
Dera Chahal gurdwara, Lahore Pakistan
Alma materGuru Nanak Dev University
Punjabi University
Nickname(s)PhD
Happy

Early life and education

Harmeet Singh was born on September 24, 1981, in Chheharta, Amritsar.[1][2] Harmeet topped Master of Arts in religious studies and in psychology from Punjabi University, Patiala.[3] Harmeet worked as a Junior Research Fellow in religious studies at Guru Nanak Dev University in 2008. He made 12,000 rupees a month. He was also pursuing a PhD.[4]

Militancy

Harmeet began associating himself with militants and became close with Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Nihang.[5]

In May 2007, Ram Rahim was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs by wearing in an advertisement attire resembling the tenth and final living Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, by using a turban with a kalgi (egret feather).[6][7] Sikh militant groups began multiple attacks against Ram Rahim for this. On February 2, 2008, Harmeet and other Khalistan Liberation Force members launched an attack on the head of Dera Sacha Sauda Ram Rahim.[8] Ram Rahim escaped unhurt, but 11 followers were injured with 2 seriously injured.[9][10]

On November 5, 2008, an FIR named Harmeet as receiving weapons, and ammunition to kill Ram Rahim. 3 men believed to be connected to Harmeet were arrested with 5 AK-56, 11 pistols, 900 cartridges, 2.5 million fake rupees and 25-kg heroin.[11]

On November 5, 2008, Harmeet left home. The next day a police team raided Harmeet's home.[3]

On July 28, 2009, KLF assassinated Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (A wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) President Rulda Singh.[12] He would die in August of the same year.[13] The same day KLF assassinated Dera Sacha Sauda, Srisa Manager Lilly Kumar in Ludhiana. Kumar was shot by 4 KLF members on motorcycles. Kumar was involved in clashes with Sikh.[14][15]

On October 31, 2009, KLF assassinated 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots main accused Dr. Budh Parkash Kashyap on the 25th year anniversary of the riots.[16] A masked man entered Kashyap’s clinic and stabbed him twice in the head and chest. Kahsyap was checking a patient when he was attacked.[17] The 1984 anti-Sikh riots was a series of organised pogroms[18][19][20] against Sikhs in India following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.[21][22][23] Government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs were killed in Delhi[20][24] and 3,350 nationwide,[25][26] whilst independent sources estimate the number of deaths at about 8,000–17,000.[27][28][29][30]

KLF leadership

On November 7, 2014, Harminder Singh Nihang, KLF chief, was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.[31] Harmeet took over as acting chief of KLF in his place.[32]

Harmeet next masterminded targeted killing of Dera Sacha Sauda, RSS, and Shiv Sena members and leaders. Harmeet recruited Hardeep Singh Shera and Ramandeep Singh Bagga to carry out the killings.[33][34][35] They were trained by Harmeet, and after each killing would flee the country.[34][36]

On April 13, 2015, KLF shot Shiv Sena Punjab secretary Harvinder Soni in the stomach at 8:30 am in Fish Park. Soni managed to survive the attack. Soni had been on the hit-list of militants since 2012 when he was accused of assaulting Sikh youth.[37][38][39]

In July 2015 Khalistan Liberation Force mailed letters to seven Shiv Sena leaders including Sanjeev Ghanauli, Rajeev Tandon, Rakesh Arora, Amit Arora, Rubal Sandhu, Sachin Ghanauli and Rajesh Palta that gave a last warning for them to leave Punjab.[40]

On August 3, 2015, president of the Punjab wing of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti, Manish Sood, was killed. He was shot dead by his guard. Hindu leaders claimed KLF paid the guard to kill Sood. They claimed Sood had been receiving death threats from KLF after he attempted to attack Jagtar Singh Hawara while Hawara was heading to court. Sood had previously pulled down posters showing Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Police denied KLF being involved.[41] Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena and certain BJP leaders and members made a call for bandh and shops to be closed in Sirhind to protest the killing.[42]

On January 18, 2016, Shera and Bagga on a motorcycle fired gun shots at new Kidwai Nagar Park in Ludhiana. The place was to host a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh shakha (assembly) later in the day. No one was injured in the firing as the venue was vacant at the time of the attack.[43][44][45]

On January 19, 2016, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Naresh Kumar shot at and injured by Shera and Bagga at Kidwai Nagar's Shaheedi Park in Ludhiana city.[46][34]

On February 3, 2016, Amit Arora, a Shiv Sena leader, was attacked by Shera and Bagga while he was sitting in his car in Ludhiana.[47] Bagga fired, but missed his shot. Since Shera and Bagga were missing their shots they were trained to be "perfect" at shooting.[34]

On April 23, 2016, Durga Parsad Gupta was shot dead by Bagga and Shera in Khanna city. He was the President of Mazdoor Sena, labour wing of Shiv Sena Punjab.[48][49][50]

On August 6, 2016, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Punjab Vice-President and retired Brigadier, Jagdish Gagneja was shot at by Bagga and Shea in Chandigarh. He was admitted to hospital and died on Sep 22.[51][52][53][34]

On November 27, 2016, the leader of KLF, Harminder Singh, escaped from maximum security Nabha jail with 5 accomplices. Nihang had been arrested for 10 terror-related charges after coming back from Thailand. He had been mobilizing funds in Thailand. Nihang was recaptured a day later.[54][55] Harmeet had masterminded the jailbreak.[13]

On January 14, 2017, Amit Sharma religious preacher, president of Hindu Takht and political activist of Indian National Congress killed in Ludhiana city by Bagga and Shera.[56][57][58][34]

On February 24, 2017, Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal Kumar and his son Ramesh Kumar were killed at a naam charcha ghar (prayer hall) in Jagera village near Malaudh by Bagga and Shera.[59][60][34] Satpal was also a Shiv Sena leader.[61]

On July 15, 2017, Sultan Masih, a pastor at Temple of God church in Ludhiana, was shot dead by Bagga and Shera who fired multiple shots killing him on the spot.[62][63][34]

On October 17, 2017, RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Gosai was shot dead in Ludhiana by Bagga and Shera. He was the RSS regional leader of Ludhiana.[64][65][34] In the escape Shera and Bagga avoided all CCTV cameras. The bike used in the killing had been stolen a week later and would be found abandoned by police.[66]

On October 23, 2017, police put a reward of 5,000,0000 rupees and a job as Sub-Inspector for information to solve the killings.[66]

After a massive manhunt in November 2017 Shera and Bagga were arrested by police which brought the killings to an end.[34][67]

Official KLF leadership

Harminder Singh Nihang died on April 18, 2018, at Patiala jail due to heart attack.[68] Harmeet would become the official chief of KLF after.[69]

On November 18, 2018, a grenade attack occurred at a Nirankari prayer hall in Adliwal, Amritsar. The blast claimed 3 lives including 1 preacher and left over 20 injured. Following the 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash, which saw 13 Sikh killed and 150 injured,[70] Nirankari were expelled by the Akal Takht out of the Sikh fold and became a target of attacks.[71][72][73] The Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh, put a reward of 5,000,000 rupees for information on the perpetrators.[74] The Punjab Police arrested three perpetrators responsible for the blast. After the arrest, it was found out that the perpetrators had links with Harmeet.[75][76][77]

In the aftermath of the attack, at the request of the NIA, the Home Ministery banned KLF under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.[78][79]

In October 2019 Interpol issued a Red Notice on Harmeet at the request of India.[80][2]

Death

Happy was murdered at Dera Chahal Gurdwara, near Lahore in Pakistan on January 27, 2020.[81] There have been varying reports on the cause and killer of Harmeet.[82] According to some Indian media Harmeet was killed over an affair[4] while other media outlets say Harmeet was killed over a financial dispute.[83] Others have speculated Harmeet was killed by R&AW or ISI.[84][85] This theory is favored by most Khalistani Sikhs.[85] A police spokesperson when asked about Harmeet's fainted ignorance claimed they had no knowledge of such an incident.[86] Harmeet's parents requested his body so they could perform the final rites, but Pakistan didn't comply. No FIR was registered by police in Lahore over Harmeet's murder.[4] Harmeet was cremated with only a few attending the creamtion.[87] The NIA failed to provide a death verification report for Harmeet.[88] He would be succeeded by Avtar Singh Khanda.[89][90]

References
  1. "Top Khalistani Leader 'Happy PhD' Killed Near Lahore: Officials". www.darpanmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  2. "View Red Notices". www.interpol.int. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  3. "LAHORE KILLING: Happy Phd's parents want his body back". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  4. "Pro-Khalistan leader's murder in Pak: Harmeet Singh killed by lover's relatives". India Today. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  5. "Amritsar attack: 'Mastermind had cut-out modus operandi'". The Indian Express. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  6. "Radical Sikh Groups Oppose Akal Takht Pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh". NDTV.com. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  7. Chopra, Radhika (12 March 2012). Militant and Migrant: The Politics and Social History of Punjab. Routledge. ISBN 9781136704345 – via Google Books.
  8. "KCF planned attack on dera chief, RDX used in explosion". Punjabnewsline.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  9. "Karnal court holds seven guilty of attacking Dera Sacha Sauda chief". Hindustan Times. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  10. "Attack on Dera cavalcade, chief Ram Rahim unhurt". The Times of India. 2008-02-02. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  11. "KLF leader Happy PhD, killed in Pak, was on 'most wanted' list". The Tribune.
  12. "Punjab News | Breaking News | Latest Online News". Punjabnewsline.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  13. "Explained: Over a decade after Sikh Sangat leader's murder, why are authorities struggling to bring guilty to book". The Indian Express. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  14. "Dera Sirsa follower who attacked Sikhs shot dead". 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
  15. "Tension erupts after Dera follower's killing in Punjab". Hindustan Times. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  16. "Punjab News | Breaking News | Latest Online News". Punjabnewsline.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  17. "Masked man killed doc who was acquitted in 1984 riots case". The Times of India. 2009-11-02. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  18. State pogroms glossed over. The Times of India. 31 December 2005.
  19. "Anti-Sikh riots a pogrom: Khushwant". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  20. Bedi, Rahul (1 November 2009). "Indira Gandhi's death remembered". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009. The 25th anniversary of Indira Gandhi's assassination revives stark memories of some 3,000 Sikhs killed brutally in the orderly pogrom that followed her killing
  21. Jeffrey M. Shaw PhD; Timothy J. Demy PhD (27 March 2017). War and Religion: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 129. ISBN 978-1610695176. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  22. Paul R. Brass (October 1996). Riots and Pogroms. NYU Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0814712825. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  23. Kaur, Jaskaran; Crossette, Barbara (2006). Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India (PDF) (2nd ed.). Portland, OR: Ensaaf. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-9787073-0-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  24. "Report:Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  25. "What Delhi HC Order on 1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom Says About 2002 Gujarat Riots". Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  26. "Why Gujarat 2002 Finds Mention in 1984 Riots Court Order on Sajjan Kumar". Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  27. Joseph, Paul (11 October 2016). The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives. SAGE. p. 433. ISBN 978-1483359885. around 17,000 Sikhs were burned alive or killed
  28. Nelson, Dean (30 January 2014). "Delhi to reopen inquiry in to massacre of Sikhs in 1984 riots". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  29. "Jagdish Tytler's role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots to be re-investigated". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  30. Pillalamarri, Akhilesh. "India's Anti-Sikh Riots, 30 Years On". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  31. "Khalistani militant Harminder Singh Mintoo, who escaped from Punjab jail, sent to 7-day police custody". The Indian Express. 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  32. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  33. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  34. Service, Tribune News. "Shera involved in 7 killings: Cops". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  35. Service, Tribune News. "15 chargesheeted in Gosain murder case". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  36. "Men behind Punjab killings linked to Rulda Singh murder: DGP". The Times of India. 2017-11-18. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  37. "Punjab Shiv Sena leader Harvinder Soni shot at, seriously injured". Hindustan Times. 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  38. "NIA declared a reward of Rs 10 lakh on Kashmir Singh Galwandi". The Indian Express. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  39. "Shiv Sena leader shot at in Gurdaspur". The Times of India. 2015-04-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  40. "Khalistan Liberation Force issues death threat to Shiv Sena leaders". India Today. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  41. "Hindu outfit leader's death: Police reject Khalistan role". The Indian Express. 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  42. "Hindu body blames Khalistani outfit for Punjab unit chief's murder". Hindustan Times. 2015-08-04. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  43. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha ground in Ludhiana, none hurt". Tribuneindia.com. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  44. Press Trust Of India (2018-05-16). "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt". News18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  45. "Shots fired at RSS Shakha in Ludhiana; none hurt - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  46. "Unidentified men fire shots at RSS shakha in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  47. "NIA team recreates attack on Sena leader in city". Tribuneindia.com. 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  48. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead by two motorcycle-borne youth | Chandigarh News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  49. "Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Khanna | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  50. "Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab". Hindustan Times. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  51. "Punjab: Senior RSS leader Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja shot at, critical". Dnaindia.com. 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  52. India PTI Sep 22, 2016 14:15:19 IST (2016-09-22). "RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja passes away, senior BJP members pay last respects". Firstpost. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  53. "Jagdish Gagneja: A low-profile, yet powerful RSS leader in Punjab | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  54. "All you need to know about Harminder Singh Mintoo and the Khalistan Liberation Force | The Indian Express". 2018-10-19. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 2023-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  55. "KLF chief Harminder Mintoo dies of cardiac arrest in Patiala jail; probe ordered".
  56. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana". The Indian Express. 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  57. "Hindu organisation leader shot dead in Ludhiana | Ludhiana News - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2017-01-14. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  58. "NIA files chargesheet against three accused in Amit Sharma killing case". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  59. "Video | 2 Dera Sacha Sauda followers shot dead in Khanna village, cops suspect Sikh radicals | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  60. "Dera followers' murder: After death of father, grandpa, this 8-year-old stares at uncertain future | punjab | ludhiana". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  61. "Khalistan Liberation Force behind killings of 2 Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab". Hindustan Times. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  62. "Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  63. "Ludhiana pastor killing: Punjab CM gives widow Rs 5 lakh, police job to son". The Indian Express. 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  64. "RSS leader Ravinder Gosai shot dead in Ludhiana | punjab | top". Hindustan Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  65. "RSS Leader Shot Dead in Punjab While Returning From 'Shakha'". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  66. "`50 Lakh, SI's post for clue to RSS leader's murder". The Times of India. 2017-10-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  67. "Bushy brows, lion tattoo on chest did Shera in". Tribuneindia.com. 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  68. "KLF chief Harminder Singh Mintoo dies of cardiac arrest in Patiala - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 April 2018.
  69. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  70. Link: Indian Newsmagazine. 1978. p. 24.
  71. Marty, Martin E.; Appleby, R. Scott (1 July 1996). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance (1 ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0226508849.
  72. "Akali ex-minister attends Nirankari meet function Dal Khalsa sees red". The Tribune. 6 October 2002. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  73. Chima, Jugdep S (2010). The Sikh Separatist Insurgency in India: Political Leadership and Ethnonationalist Movements. New Delhi: SAGE Publication. pp. 41–44. ISBN 9788132105381.
  74. "Award of Rs 50 lakh for information on assailants, says Amarinder". The Times of India. 2018-11-20. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  75. "No major terror attack in country's hinterland in last three years: Home Ministry informs Lok Sabha". The Hindu. PTI. 2020-03-03. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-03-13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  76. "Prime accused in Amritsar grenade attack arrested". The Hindu. 2018-11-24. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  77. "Punjab police makes second arrest in Amritsar grenade attack case, recovers pistols - The Economic Times". m.economictimes.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  78. "NIA 'asks' home ministry to ban Khalistan outfit". Times of India. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  79. "Govt bans Khalistan Liberation Force". The Economic Times. 2018-12-27. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  80. "Red notices against 8 Khalistani militants". Hindustan Times. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  81. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  82. "Arms and Drugs supplier and target killer Harmeet Singh". Khalistan Extremism Monitor. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  83. "Top Khalistani leader 'Happy PhD' killed near Lahore: Officials". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  84. "Hunting Khalistani Network And Question of Intelligence Agencies". Chanakya Forum. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  85. Levina (2020-02-03). "Happy PhD's killing exposes a drift between Jaish and Khalistani groups, and ISI's sinister plan to ethnically cleanse Punjab". Resonant News. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  86. Network, Post News (2020-01-28). "Pro-Khalistani leader Harmeet Singh allegedly shot dead in Pakistan - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  87. "KLF chief Happy PhD cremated in Pakistan". Hindustan Times. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  88. "Punjab: NIA fails to produce death verification report of KLF leader Harmeet PhD". The Indian Express. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  89. "Who was Avtar Khanda, Amritpal Singh's 'mentor', who died in the UK?". Firstpost. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  90. "Avtar Singh Khanda, Amritpal Singh's Close Aide, Dies In London: Reports".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.