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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Bhai
| name = Manvir Singh Chaheru
| birth_date = 1959
| death_date = December 1987
| birth_place = Village Chaheru, [[Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India|Panjab]], [[India]]
| death_place = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| honorific_suffix = Shaheed
| image =
| caption =
| nickname = Manbir Singh
| organization = [[Khalistan Commando Force]]
| years_active = 1984–1986
| known_for = founding KCF, [[Khalistan movement]]
*Day-light attack on District Courts in Jalandhar, Punjab where six policemen were killed. Freed [[Labh Singh]], Sawarnjit Singh and Gurinder Singh Bhola from police custody.
| awards =
}}

'''Bhai Manvir Singh Chaheru''' (also known as "Bhai Manbir Singh Chaheru", Iqbal Singh, Hari Singh and "General Manvir Singh Chaheru",) was a founder and first leader of the organization [[Khalistan Commando Force]].<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8k4rEPvq_8C&q=hari+singh+khalistan&pg=PA242 |title=Encyclopedia of modern worldwide ... – Google Books |isbn=9780313324857 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Atkins |first1=Stephen E. |year=2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wA3yjdgyY9kC&q=hari+singh+khalistan&pg=RA2-PA153 |title=Fighting for faith and nation ... – Google Books |date= November 1996|isbn=0812215923 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=saGFAAAAMAAJ&q=hari+singh+khalistan |title=Violence as political discourse – Google Books |date=13 October 2008 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Singh |first1=Birinder Pal |isbn=9788179860069 }}</ref>

==Early life==

Manvir Singh was born in 1959 in the village of Chaheru, [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oC0KAQAAIAAJ&q=born+chaheru |title=India today – Google Books |date=18 February 2009 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>
His father, Mohinder Singh, was a farmer.

Manvir Singh completed his primary education from his village school.
He then moved to the home of his maternal aunt Niranjan Kaur, in the village of Kala Bakra, for his secondary education.
After passing his matriculation exams, he assisted his father in agriculture for six years.
He later married Ranjit Kaur.

==Baptism and religious inclination==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2013}}
The Nirankari-Sikh [[Gurbachan Singh#Events of 1978-1980|events of 1978]] affected Manvir Singh. A retired army officer Giani Joginder Singh who was also son-in-law of Manvir Singh's aunt Niranjan Kaur, encouraged him to get baptised (a Sikh initiation ceremony). In 1979, Manvir Singh along with his wife and his father's younger brother, Karnail Singh, took the baptism from Sant Nihal Singh Harian Wela Wale at the Sodal Gurdwara in district of [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].

He came in contact with Bhai Mohkam Singh, Bhai Gurbant Singh, Bhai Prem Singh and [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] while attending religious classes of [[Damdami Taksal]] at the Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, Mehta Chownk, district [[Amritsar]], Punjab.

==Association with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale==

In 1981, Chaheru was arrested temporarily because of his heated arguments with a [[Senior Superintendent of Police]] of [[Jalandhar]], Gur Iqbal Singh Bhular, when Bhular questioned Chaheru about his actions.
Chaheru's uncle, Karnail Singh, got him released on bail with a personal surety that Manvir Singh would appear at Police station the next day.
After this incident, Manvir Singh approached [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] and moved to the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] (''Harmandir Sahib'') complex where he served food in the [[Langar (Sikhism)|Sikh free kitchen]] (''Guru ka Langar'').
Chaheru became Bhindranwale's personal bodyguard.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiZnAAAAMAAJ&q=manbir+singh+bodyguard |title=The Journal of Commonwealth ... – Google Books |date=12 June 2008 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>
Police arrested his uncle Karnail Singh for Manvir Singh's failure to appear at the police station per his assurance.

In the Golden Temple complex, Manvir Singh stayed in room number 53 of Guru Nanak Niwas along with Giani Joginder Singh, [[Malagar Singh Babbar]], Singh and Gurtej Singh.
He came in contact with Major Singh Nagoke who fought against Indian forces during [[Operation Blue Star]], Sukhdev Singh Sukha of village Fatu Dinga, Balwinder Singh Khojkipur, Joginder Singh Rode and Kabal Singh.

Giani Joginder Singh, a relative of Manvir Singh Chaheru, died while leading a band of Sikhs in fighting Indian army at the main entrance of Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar.
Giani Joginder Singh's daughter later married Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's son Inderjit Singh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov29/punjab.htm#3 |title=tribuneindia... Punjab |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>

==Khalistan Commando Force==
Manvir Singh Chaheru was not inside [[Harmandir Sahib|Sri Harmandir Sahib]] (The Golden Temple) during [[Operation Blue Star]] in 1984.
After the attack, he fled to Pakistan, but returned to avenge the attack and to achieve independence for [[Khalistan]].
He and others, including [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]], [[Gurdev Singh Debu]], Mathra Singh and Tarsem Singh Kuhaar, established the [[Khalistan Commando Force]] and Manvir Singh Chaheru was declared its leader.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-3779873.html |title=WORLD NEWS BRIEFS – Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>

Manvir Singh set up the [[Khalistan Commando Force|KCF]] military hierarchy, but ad hoc groups conducted most operations at the local level.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="Pruthi162">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxndvJs3wUkC&q=khalistan+flag&pg=PA162|title=Sikhism and Indian Civilization|last1=Pruthi|first1=Raj|date=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=9788171418794|page=162|accessdate=25 October 2018}}</ref>

He participated in several encounters against Indian security forces.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wA3yjdgyY9kC&q=manbir+chaheru&pg=PA168 |title=Fighting for faith and nation ... |date= November 1996|isbn=0812215923 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley }}</ref>

In 1986 Manvir Singh and Balbir Singh Raipur planned to release [[Labh Singh|Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and Sawarnjit Singh from Police custody as they were to appear in court on charges of slaying Ramesh Chander, a [[Hindu]] newspaper editor.

Balbir Singh arranged a car and Jarnail Singh arranged a jeep as a get away vehicle.
They planned to free both Sukhdev Singh and Sawarnjit Singh from the district courts in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]] when the prisoners arrived for their monthly hearings.
Manvir Singh, Ajitpal Singh, Balbir Singh Raipur, Rashpal Singh, Jarnail Singh met outside the courts.
Manvir Singh was carrying a sten gun and all other Singh's had revolvers.
When Sukhdev Singh and Sawarnjit Singh arrived under heavy police protection, Manvir Singh signalled them to go to the washrooms.
Once they went, Manvir Singh and his partners opened fire on the policemen, the attackers killed four police officers inside the court complex and two at the courtyard gate.
They were able to free Sukhdev Singh Sukha, Sawarnjit Singh and Gurinder Singh Bhola.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wA3yjdgyY9kC&q=manbir+chaheru&pg=RA2-PA169 |title=Fighting for faith and nation ... – Google Books |date= November 1996|isbn=0812215923 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&q=general+labh+singh+fighting+for+faith+and+nation&pg=PA168 |title=Fighting for faith and nation ... – Google Books |date= November 1996|isbn=0812215923 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Mahmood |first1=Cynthia Keppley }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N-UVAAAAIBAJ&pg=7064,1405115&dq=sukhdev-singh |title=Wilmington Morning Star, Apr 6, 1986 Sikhs kill 6 on courthouse steps |date=2 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yp4OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6832,936053 |title=The Courier – Apr 6, 1986 |date=2 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58572255.html?dids=58572255:58572255&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+06%2C+1986&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=The+World+Sikhs+Kill+Six+Policemen&pqatl=google |title=Los Angeles Times – Apr 6, 1986 |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=6 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/25001922.html?dids=25001922:25001922&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Apr+06%2C+1986&author=Chicago+Tribune+wires&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=SIKH+GUNMEN+SLAY+6+COPS+IN+PUNJAB&pqatl=google |title=Chicago Tribune, Apr 5, 1986 |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=6 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ag0QAAAAIBAJ&pg=2974,4819350&dq=sukhdev+singh+court |title=The Free-Lance Star – Apr 5, 1986 |date=2 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Vc0LAAAAIBAJ&pg=2390,6468990&dq=sukhdev+singh+court |title=Ludington Daily News – Apr 4, 1986 |date=2 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TRoSAAAAIBAJ&pg=3324,3332405&dq=court+jullundur+police |title=The Spokesman-Review, Apr 6, 1986 |date=6 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QGgVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5549,1304617&dq=court+jullundur+police |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717171703/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QGgVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5549,1304617&dq=court+jullundur+police |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=Eugene Register-Guard – Apr 6, 1986 |date=6 April 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}} </ref>

==Arrest and death==
On 8 August 1986, Manvir Singh Chaheru was arrested along with Major Baldev Singh Ghuman, Charanjit Singh dhami and two other Sikhs when approximately 200 paramilitary troops raided Major Baldev Singh's farm House on bootan village the outskirts of city of [[Jalandhar]], in state of Punjab.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7VBuAAAAMAAJ&q=manbir+singh+baldev+singh |title=The Sikhs of the Punjab: unheard ... – Google Books |date=3 September 2008 |isbn=9781856493550 |accessdate=2009-08-09|last1=Pettigrew |first1=Joyce }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24928368.html?dids=24928368:24928368&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Aug+10%2C+1986&author=Chicago+Tribune+wires&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=INDIAN+RAID+CAPTURES+FUGITIVE+SIKH+LEADER&pqatl=google |title=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PbMTAAAAIBAJ&pg=6842,2750498 |title=NEW Straits Times |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KW0VAAAAIBAJ&pg=1988,2265985 |title=The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon |date=11 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jTQTAAAAIBAJ&pg=1019,3484708 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713021139/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jTQTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1019,3484708 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |title=The Ledger |date=11 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}} </ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ajoRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3630,2687812&dq=manbir+singh |title=Gainesville Sun – Aug 10, 1986 |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dxEVAAAAIBAJ&pg=1914,4947815&dq=manbir+singh |title=Toledo Blade – Aug 10, 1986 |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511040351/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dxEVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1914,4947815&dq=manbir+singh |archive-date=11 May 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19860810&id=VhUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5270,4783818 |title=Ocala Star-Banner – Aug 10, 1986 |date=11 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref> [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab police]] stated that there were two dozen murder cases registered against Chaheru by that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-3779873.html |title=WORLD NEWS BRIEFS – Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=10 August 1986 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>

It is unclear as to what led to his arrest. It is possible that government infiltrators whose aim was to plot the Gurjit Singh faction against Kahlon faction did this. Subsequently the committee members of Kahlon faction were killed by the Gurjit Singh faction.{{Clarify|This seems to have been damaged in one of the many edit wars here|date=June 2009}}

Bhai Manvir Singh Chaheru was kept in various jails in state of Punjab, and later he was moved to another jail in the state of [[Bihar]].
In December 1987, police announced that Manvir Singh had escaped from the police custody while officials were returning Chaheru from Bihar to Punjab.
There were claims that police had killed him while he was in police custody<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiZnAAAAMAAJ&q=manbir+singh+khalistan |title=The Journal of Commonwealth ... – Google Books |date=12 June 2008 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref> and disposed his body in the [[Beas River]].
In the city of [[Chandigarh]], the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] Chief [[Julio Francis Ribeiro]] told news reporters afterward that "...they do not need to worry as Manvir Singh will not come back."{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

==See also==
*[[Khalistan movement]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://damdamitaksaal.org/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=30 [[Damdami Taksal|Damdami Taksaal]] – Bio of Manvir Singh Chaheru]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = None|title = Commander-in-Chief of [[Khalistan Commando Force]]| years = 1984–1986 | after = [[Labh Singh|General Labh Singh]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaheru, Manbir Singh}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:People from Kapurthala]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Khalistan movement people]]
[[Category:Indian murder victims]]
[[Category:People murdered in India]]
[[Category:Deaths in police custody in India]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Sikh terrorism]]
[[Category:Insurgency in Punjab]]
[[Category:1986 murders in India]]
[[Category:1987 murders in India]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]

Manbir Singh Chaheru - Revision history

Bot at 06:26, 25 December 2022