Labh Singh

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Labh Singh
Born
1952
Village Panjwar, Amritsar, India



Years active
1984–1988



Sukhdev Singh Dhillon (1952 – 12 July 1988), best known as Labh Singh and also known as Sukha Sipahi and General Labh Singh, was a former Punjab police officer turned militant[1] who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru, was arrested in 1986.[2] [3]

He was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and fought against the Indian Army during Operation Blue Star.[4] He was involved in the attack on the Director-General of the Punjab Police, Julio Francis Ribeiro. He allegedly masterminded[5] what was then India's largest bank robbery,[6] taking almost Rs. 60 million ($4.5 million) from the Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana.[6][7][8] which enabled the Khalistan Commando Force to buy weapons.[9]

Early life

Labh Singh's original name was Sukhdev Singh Dhillon He was also known as Sukha Sipahi.[10] He lived in the village of Panjwar, in Tehsil (sub-district) Patti in district Amritsar[11][12][13] and owned Template:Convert of land.[11][14] He married Davinder Kaur.[15]

Punjab Police service

After finishing his education at Baba Buddha Sahib College,[16] Labh Singh joined the Punjab Police force[17] in 1971[18] and served the force until he left his job[18] in 1983.[1]

Association with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale

Influenced by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Labh Singh left the Punjab police in 1983,[18] and joined the Sikh freedom movement.[17]

In May 1984, Labh Singh, Gursewak Singh Babla,[19] Gurinder Singh and Swaranjit Singh were accused of killing Hind Samachar newspaper group editor Ramesh Chander,[20] who was an outspoken critic of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale[21] and had written that Punjab had "become a slaughterhouse." In a call to an Amritsar news agency, responsibility for the attack in Jullundur by four armed men was claimed by Sikh militant group Deshmesh Regiment.[22]

During Operation Blue Star, he fought against the Indian Army with other Sikh militants.[4] He was arrested by the army after the operation.[23]

Association with Khalistan Commando Force

Jailbreak

6 people were killed, and more injured, in a violent attack on the District court in Jalandhar, Punjab, India.[24][25][26][27][28][29] Accounts of the attack, reported on 6 April 1986 in the US, differed.[20] According to an unidentified source in Mahmood's "Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants", the attack was made by Sikh militant leader Manbir Singh Chaheru and his associates.[30]

"The Courier" of Arizona, US, carried a story attributed to UPI stating that 3 "Sikh terrorists" killed 3 police officers who were taking 3 prisoners to a bathroom, while "16 armed court guards cowered in fear". The report stated that 2 police holding a 4th prisoner were also gunned down, and that "Three other officers, a lawyer, and a bystander were wounded as the Sikhs sprayed the area for 15 minutes." Police said that the guards were too frightened to return fire. This fourth suspect remained in custody. Finally, the Courier article reported that the Sikhs looted "three rifles and a submachine gun" from the dead bodies, and that a 6th officer later succumbed to wounds from the attack.[31]

The "Wilmington Morning Star" carried an AP story, and related that 3 "Sikh extremists" killed 4 police officers inside the District Court complex, killed two officers who "were shot at the courtyard gate as the attackers fled", and wounded 4 other individuals, including a lawyer. The Star identified the freed suspects as Labh Singh, Gurinder Singh, and Swaranjit Singh, who were to appear in court on charges of slaying Ramesh Chander, a Hindu newspaper editor. The Star reported that District Magistrate S.C. Aggarwal said 4 attackers fired over a compound wall from a lane. It further reported that others witnessed the attackers open fire from close range as police led the prisoners to the toilet. The report concluded with District Police Chief Baljit Singh Sandhu's statement that the attackers hard "fired at least 50 rounds" in the attack.[20]

The "Eugene Register-Guardian" reported that District Magistrate S.C. Aggarwal said in a telephone interview that 3 or more attackers opened fire as 4 defendants accused of the May 1984 slaying of Ramesh Chander, were being led into the compound, and that the attackers took 3 rifles from the slain police. [29]

This single incident became a basis of Roberio's "Bullet for bullet" policy.[32]

KCF leadership

After KCF's first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru was arrested and disappeared or died, Labh Singh took over the leadership of Khalistan Commando Force.[1][3]

One unnamed author speculated in "Genesis of terrorism: an analytical study of Punjab terrorists" that Labh Singh "perhaps" maintained his links with Babbar Khalsa International.[10]

Attack on Director General of Punjab Police

Although account details differ, on 3 October 1986, men identified in the press as Sikh militants in police uniforms attacked Director-General Punjab Police Julio Francis Ribeiro inside his headquarters in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India, with automatic weapons.[33] One guard was killed, and Ribeiro, his wife, and four other officers were injured. Ribeiro's wound was minor, but his wife was hospitalized.[34][35][36][37] Khalistan Commando Force later claimed responsibility for this attack.[38] KCF leader Labh Singh allegedly led the attack.[39][40]

Bank robbery

Labh Singh allegedly masterminded[5] what was at that time the largest bank robbery in Indian history, netting almost 60 million (58 million rupees-US$4.5 million) from the Millar Ganj branch of the Punjab National Bank, Ludhiana;[5] a part of this stolen money belonged to the Reserve Bank of India, India's central bank.[6][7] It was documented as the "Biggest Bank Robbery" under "Curiosities and wonders" in the Limca Book of Records.[41] The loot enabled the Khalistan Commando Force to buy sophisticated weapons[42] and AK-47 rifles.[9] Sikh militants often used bank robberies to finance their campaign against the Indian government.[6]

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that "12 to 15 Sikhs dressed as policemen and armed with submachine guns and rifles escaped with nearly $4.5 million in the biggest bank robbery in Indian history." "No one was injured." A Police spokesman described it as "a neat and clean operation".[7]

Khalistan Commando Force members who allegedly participated in the robbery included Harjinder Singh Jinda, Mathra Singh,[43] Paramjit Singh Panjwar,[44] Satnam Singh Bawa,[45] Gurnam Singh Bundala,[46] Sukhdev Singh Sukha, Daljit Singh Bittu,[47][48][49] Gursharan Singh Gamma[47][48] and Pritpal Singh.[50]

Death

In June 1988, the Panthic committee appointed Labh Singh a high priest,[23] but on 12 July 1988 he was killed[51][52] in an encounter with police near Tanda, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India.[23][53][54][55]

At that time, he was wanted in relation to the murder of a dozen policemen, newspaper editor Ramesh Chander, and an attempt on the former Punjab Police Chief Julio Francis Ribeiro.[23] Amritsar Police Superintendent Suresh Arora said "We have broken the back of the KCF. Sukhdev Singh was the most dreaded of the terrorists."[23]

The Tribune of India carried a report of a neighbor's statement that, after his death, many of his family emigrated to Canada, though his father-in-law stayed on in Labh Singh's house. The neighbor further stated that the father-in-law committed suicide after police beat him "mercilessly", and that the house then remained deserted for several years, but that finally it has been taken over by his relatives.[17]

Kanwaljit Singh Sultanwind succeeded Labh Singh as leader of the KCF.[13]

The Tribune India reported in July 2006 that a Bhog (Sikh religious ceremony) for Labh Singh was held "in the past few months".[56]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Template:Harvnb
  2. ↑ India's most-wanted terrorist captured(11 August 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups{{#if:Atkins|, Atkins}. Greenwood Publishing Group(2004). ISBN 9780313324857
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Harvnb
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Template:Harvnb
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sikh Separatists Masquerade as Police to Stage India's Biggest Bank Robbery. Los Angeles Times(13 February 1987). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sikhs rob India bank of $4.5 million. Chicago Sun-Times(13 February 1987). Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  8. ↑ SGPC honours kin of Vaidya's assassins(9 October 2008). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Identity and Survival: Sikh Militancy in India 1978–1993. Pa{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Penguin India(2006). ISBN 978-0-14-310036-2
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Genesis of terrorism: an analytical study of Punjab terrorists{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Patriot(1988). ISBN 9788170500674
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Journal of Commonwealth & comparative politics, Volume 29{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Frank Cass(1991)
  12. ↑ Social and political movements by Harish K. Puri, Paramjit S. Judge, Page 391{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(3 September 2008). ISBN 978-81-7033-633-4
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Normalcy a bliss for Panjwar family(9 March 2001). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Template:Harvnb
  15. ↑ Ajmer Singh's new work engages with 1984 Catastrophe. World Sikh News. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Gursikhs and Inspirational Living. Ektaone.com. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Kin of slain Babbar Khalsa chief shift abroad(8 March 2001). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Template:Harvnb
  19. ↑ Babla's escape revives fear of militant strikes. The Times of India(27 August 2004). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Sikhs Kill 6 on Courthouse Steps(6 April 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  21. ↑ India editor slain as violence spreads(13 May 1984). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Murder prompts riot. Wilimington Morning Star(13 May 1984). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Top Sikh extremist shot dead by Indian police. New Straits Times(13 July 1988). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  24. ↑ The World, section 1. Los Angeles Times(6 April 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  25. ↑ SIKH GUNMEN SLAY 6 COPS IN PUNJAB(5 April 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  26. ↑ Sikh terrorist kill policemen in Punjab(5 April 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  27. ↑ Terrorists kill 6 policemen, free prisoners(4 April 1986). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  28. ↑ Sikhs kill 6, free 3 prisoners(6 April 1986).
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Sikh extremists kill 6 policemen, free 3 prisoners(6 April 1986).
  30. ↑ Template:Harvnb
  31. ↑ Bloody jailbreak in Punjab leaves three officers dead(5 April 1986). Retrieved 30 September 2009. Template:Dead link
  32. ↑ Book Review:Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer:'Bullet-for-bullet is not my baby'(7 March 1999). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  33. ↑ Disguised Sikhs attack compound of police chief(3 October 1986). Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  34. ↑ Boca Raton News - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
  35. ↑ Spokane Chronicle - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
  36. ↑ The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
  37. ↑ Aide Battling Sikh Terrorism Survives Attack. Los Angeles Times(4 October 1986).
  38. ↑ The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
  39. ↑ Panjwar village hums with poll activity(25 January 2002). Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  40. ↑ India files complaint over 'martyrs' parade, The Windsor Star. Canada.com(24 April 2008). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  41. ↑ Limca Book of Records{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Bisleri Beverages Ltd.(1999)
  42. ↑ The Sikh unrest and the Indian state: politics, personalities, and historical retrospective{{#if:Kumar|, Kumar}. Ajanta Publications,India(1997). ISBN 9788120204539
  43. ↑ Asian Recorder, Issue 28{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. K. K. Thomas at Recorder Press(1987)
  44. ↑ Paramjit Singh Panjwar (Khalistan Commando Force). The Indian Express(4 December 2008). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  45. ↑ Asian recorder – Google Books{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(26 August 2008)
  46. ↑ Police arrest 'dead' terrorist(12 October 1998). Retrieved 9 August 2009. Template:Dead link
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Gursharan Singh Gama arrested(1 October 2006).Template:Dead link
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Killers of Lalit Maken held. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  49. ↑ Dreaded militant Daljit Singh alias Bittu gets parole for marriage(14 September 2005). Retrieved 30 August 2009. Template:Dead link
  50. ↑ News & Current Events. Ministry of Truth. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  51. ↑ Terrorism in Context{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Pennsylvania State University Press(1 January 1995). ISBN 978-0-271-01015-1
  52. ↑ A Timeline of Sikh Religious and Political History. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  53. ↑ Endgame In Punjab: 1988–1993. Faultlines({Template:Date).
  54. ↑ Punjab Backgrounder. Satp.org. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  55. ↑ IN THE WORLD, front section. The Miami Herald(13 July 1988).
  56. ↑ MSP hike rejected as too meagre. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

References

  • Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants{{#if:Mahmood|, Mahmood}. University of Pennsylvania Press(1997). ISBN 978-0-8122-1592-2
  • Terrorism: Punjab's recurring nightmare{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Sehgal Book Distributors(1996)

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