General Labh Singh: Difference between revisions

From SikhiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
(Completely restructured)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''General Labh Singh''' was a former Punjab Police officer who created [[Khalistan Commando Force]] from [[Manbir Singh Chaheru]] and became its Chief (General). <ref>http://www.sikhlionz.com/martyrbhaimanbirsinghchaheru.htm </ref>. His original name was Sukhdev Singh and was also known as Sukha Sipahi (Sukha Soldier). He was considered to be an extremely intelligent person because he created [[Khalistan Commando Force]] with a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accommodate any potential setbacks. He was the undisputed head of this force, until his death. He appointed half a dozen Lieutenant Generals, each independent of each other, with each of them having Area Commanders. As such, the death of a Lieutenant General for example would result in the promotion of an Area Commander. After his death this organisation was headed by Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind. After Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind's killing, Paramjeet Singh Panjwar became the General of his organisation, and he is so till date.


General Labh Singh was involved in several high profile battles with Indian Security forces including [[Operation Blue Star]]. He was involved in a daylight attack on the Director-General of the [[Punjab Police]] [[Julio Francis Ribeiro]] on October 3, 1986 inside the headquarters of Punjab Armed Police in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India<ref>http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020125/punjab1.htm</ref><ref>http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=4e9019ee-c9cd-4459-8a1f-e4f08238125e</ref><ref>http://www.sikhtimes.com/sikhism_timeline.html</ref>. Along with [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and other militants of the [[Khalistan Commando Force]], he took part in the daylight robbery of the [[Punjab National Bank]], Miller Gunj branch, [[Ludhiana]] in which more than Rs 5.70 crore (57 million Rupees) were looted, a part of which belonged to the [[Reserve Bank of India]], India's central bank. <ref>http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google</ref><ref>http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3810376.html</ref> Sikh militants often robbed Indian banks to finance their campaign against the Indian government<ref>  http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google</ref>. This bank robbery was biggest of other similar actions which Sikh militants did to weaken the government and to use Indian Money against Indian Security forces
'''Labh Singh''' (or "General Labh Singh") was a former Punjab Police officer<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=RA1-PA155&dq=hari+singh+labh+general&lr=&ei=i1w3SvXiLYzUkwS098mgBQ Fighting for Faith and Nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155]</ref> who took command of the [[Khalistan Commando Force]] after its founder, General [[Manbir Singh Chaheru]], died in late 1980s <ref>http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/726/etd1604.pdf</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=b8k4rEPvq_8C&pg=PA242&dq=chaheru+labh&lr=&ei=OFs3St-ALozMlQSanoWsBQ Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups by Stephen E. Atkins]</ref>. He was an associate of Sant [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] and he had fought against Indian army during [[Operation Bluestar]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=wA3yjdgyY9kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+labh+singh+jarnail+singh&lr=&ei=nlM3Sv7IGILClQS85PDBBQ#PRA1-PA79-IA10,M1 Fighting for faith and nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood]</ref>. He was credited for re-structuring [[Khalistan Commando Force]] with a fluid hierarchy. He was involved in the attack on the Director-General of the Punjab Police [[Julio Francis Ribeiro]]. He also took part in the Indian history's biggest bank robbery of Rs. 5.70 crore (US$4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, [[Ludhiana]]<ref name="tribuneindia.com">http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081010/punjab1.htm#11</ref> to finance violent campaign for a separate Sikh state of [[Khalistan]].<ref>http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google</ref><ref>http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3810376.html</ref>.


On July 12, 1988, Indian Security forces claimed that he was killed in an exchange of fire with the police near Tanda, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. (Faultlines, May 1999, vol. 1.1, p. 29, New Delhi: Institute of Conflict Management.) <ref> http://www.sikhtimes.com/sikhism_timeline.html </ref>
==Early life==
 
Labh Singh's original name was Sukhdev Singh and he was also known as Sukha Sipahi<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=AK6QA_WotRYC&pg=PT161&dq=general+labh+singh&ei=Rj83Sq-cM5DOlQSi97GnAQ Terrorism & It's Effects By Juan Sanchez, various]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=0nhuAAAAMAAJ&q=general+labh+singh+jarnail+singh&dq=general+labh+singh+jarnail+singh&ei=hFE3Spe1NYuwkASBrbDDBA&pgis=1 Genesis of terrorism By Satyapal Dang]</ref>. He was born in 1952 to Mr. Puran Singh and Mrs. Kulwant Kaur in the village of Panjwar, District [[Amritsar]], Punjab, India. In 1980, he married Davinder Kaur according to [[Sikh]] rites and had two sons Rajashwar Singh and Pardeep Singh. He served in police force for 12 years<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=RA1-PA155&dq=hari+singh+labh+general&lr=&ei=i1w3SvXiLYzUkwS098mgBQ Fighting for Faith and Nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155]</ref>.
 
==Association with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale==
 
In 1983, he left his job with the Punjab Police to join the Sikh separatist leader [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]]<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010309/main7.htm The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. During [[Operation Blue Star]], he fought against Indian Army along with other Sikh militants<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=wA3yjdgyY9kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=general+labh+singh+jarnail+singh&lr=&ei=nlM3Sv7IGILClQS85PDBBQ#PRA1-PA79-IA10,M1 Fighting for faith and nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood]</ref>. Arrested by the army after the operation, he was sent to Jodhpur Jail where he spent two years without trial.
 
==Association with Khalistan Commando Force==
 
He escaped from police cutody on April 25th 1986 when Sikh militant leader [[Manbir Singh Chaheru]] attacked Indian security forces that were taking him to trail in the District courts of  [[Jallandhar]], Punjab, India<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=PA168&dq=general+labh+singh+fighting+for+faith+and+nation&lr=&num=100&ei=upDaSOfhJKDitQPG2-XeDg&sig=ACfU3U2YnlXSW49kQTTEBo8RDhPhpDFIfQ</ref>.
 
After [[Khalistan Commando Force|KCF]]'s first commander-in-chief [[Manbir Singh Chaheru]]'s arrest and alleged disappearance, Labh Singh took over the leadership of [[Khalistan Commando Force]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=RA1-PA155&dq=hari+singh+labh+general&lr=&ei=i1w3SvXiLYzUkwS098mgBQ Fighting for Faith and Nation  by By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=b8k4rEPvq_8C&pg=PA242&dq=chaheru+labh&lr=&ei=OFs3St-ALozMlQSanoWsBQ 'Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups' by Stephen E. Atkins]</ref> and re-created it with a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accommodate any potential setbacks. He was the undisputed head of this force until his death. He appointed half a dozen Lieutenant Generals, each independent of each other, with each of them having Area Commanders. As such, the death of a Lieutenant General, for example, would result in the promotion of an Area Commander<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=AK6QA_WotRYC&pg=PT161&dq=general+labh+singh&ei=Rj83Sq-cM5DOlQSi97GnAQ</ref>. After his death this organisation was headed by Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind. After Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind's death, Paramjeet Singh Panjwar became the General of his organisation.
 
He was involved in several police encounters including daylight attack on the Director-General of the Punjab Police [[Julio Francis Ribeiro]] on October 3, 1986 inside the headquarters of Punjab Armed Police in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India<ref>http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020125/punjab1.htm</ref><ref>http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=4e9019ee-c9cd-4459-8a1f-e4f08238125e</ref><ref>http://www.sikhtimes.com/sikhism_timeline.html</ref>.
 
Along with [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and other militants of the [[Khalistan Commando Force]], he also took part in the daylight robbery of the Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, [[Ludhiana]] in which more than Rs 5.70 crore (58 million rupees-US$4.5 million) were looted, a part of which belonged to the Reserve Bank of India, India's central bank. <ref name="pqasb.pqarchiver.com">http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google</ref><ref>http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3810376.html</ref> Sikh militants often used bank robberies to finance their violent campaign against the Indian government.<ref name="pqasb.pqarchiver.com"/>.
 
==Death and Afterwards==
 
He was killed in an exchange of fire with the police near [[Tanda]], [[Hoshiarpur]], Punjab, India (Faultlines, May 1999, vol. 1.1, p. 29, New Delhi: Institute of Conflict Management.)<ref>http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/backgrounder/index.html</ref><ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=z9GG4__JJNwC&pg=PA399&dq=general+labh+singh&ei=NUs3StXSGYSukASb1pCoAQ</ref>. His entire family was forced to migrate to [[Canada]] after his death though his father-in-law stayed on in Labh Singh's house. However, he committed suicide by jumping himself before a train after he was ‘mercilessly’ beaten up by the Punjab Police<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010309/main7.htm The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The ancestral house of Sukha Sipahi, which remained abandoned for years after his killing, is occupied by his relatives now<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010309/main7.htm The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.


He was born in 1952 at the house of Mr Puran Singh and Mrs Kulwant Kaur in the village of Panjwar, District Amritsar, Punjab, India. He married Bibi Davinder Kaur as per Sikh marriage ceremony, i.e. Anand Karaj in the year of 1980. He had two sons Rajashwar Singh and Pardeep Singh. He left [[Punjab Police]] in the year [[1983]] to join [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]]. During [[Operation Blue Star]], he fought alongside other Sikh militants against Indian Army and was arrested afterwards. He was sent to [[Jodhpur Jail]] in state of [[Rajasthan]] where he spent two years without any trial. Finally, Sikh millitant leader Manbir Singh Chaheru got him released after attacking indian security forces in District courts, [[Jallandhar]], [[Punjab]], India. His entire family had to migrate to Canada after his killing. His father-in-law lived in his abandoned house after his death for a while. However, he committed suicide by jumping himself before a train after he was ‘mercilessly’ beaten up by the Punjab Police. <ref>http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010309/main7.htm </ref> <ref>http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020125/punjab1.htm </ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 00:53, 17 June 2009

Labh Singh (or "General Labh Singh") was a former Punjab Police officer[1] who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its founder, General Manbir Singh Chaheru, died in late 1980s [2][3]. He was an associate of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and he had fought against Indian army during Operation Bluestar[4]. He was credited for re-structuring Khalistan Commando Force with a fluid hierarchy. He was involved in the attack on the Director-General of the Punjab Police Julio Francis Ribeiro. He also took part in the Indian history's biggest bank robbery of Rs. 5.70 crore (US$4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana[5] to finance violent campaign for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan.[6][7].

Early life

Labh Singh's original name was Sukhdev Singh and he was also known as Sukha Sipahi[8][9]. He was born in 1952 to Mr. Puran Singh and Mrs. Kulwant Kaur in the village of Panjwar, District Amritsar, Punjab, India. In 1980, he married Davinder Kaur according to Sikh rites and had two sons Rajashwar Singh and Pardeep Singh. He served in police force for 12 years[10].

Association with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale

In 1983, he left his job with the Punjab Police to join the Sikh separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale[11]. During Operation Blue Star, he fought against Indian Army along with other Sikh militants[12]. Arrested by the army after the operation, he was sent to Jodhpur Jail where he spent two years without trial.

Association with Khalistan Commando Force

He escaped from police cutody on April 25th 1986 when Sikh militant leader Manbir Singh Chaheru attacked Indian security forces that were taking him to trail in the District courts of Jallandhar, Punjab, India[13].

After KCF's first commander-in-chief Manbir Singh Chaheru's arrest and alleged disappearance, Labh Singh took over the leadership of Khalistan Commando Force[14][15] and re-created it with a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accommodate any potential setbacks. He was the undisputed head of this force until his death. He appointed half a dozen Lieutenant Generals, each independent of each other, with each of them having Area Commanders. As such, the death of a Lieutenant General, for example, would result in the promotion of an Area Commander[16]. After his death this organisation was headed by Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind. After Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind's death, Paramjeet Singh Panjwar became the General of his organisation.

He was involved in several police encounters including daylight attack on the Director-General of the Punjab Police Julio Francis Ribeiro on October 3, 1986 inside the headquarters of Punjab Armed Police in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India[17][18][19].

Along with Harjinder Singh Jinda, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and other militants of the Khalistan Commando Force, he also took part in the daylight robbery of the Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana in which more than Rs 5.70 crore (58 million rupees-US$4.5 million) were looted, a part of which belonged to the Reserve Bank of India, India's central bank. [20][21] Sikh militants often used bank robberies to finance their violent campaign against the Indian government.[20].

Death and Afterwards

He was killed in an exchange of fire with the police near Tanda, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India (Faultlines, May 1999, vol. 1.1, p. 29, New Delhi: Institute of Conflict Management.)[22][23]. His entire family was forced to migrate to Canada after his death though his father-in-law stayed on in Labh Singh's house. However, he committed suicide by jumping himself before a train after he was ‘mercilessly’ beaten up by the Punjab Police[24]. The ancestral house of Sukha Sipahi, which remained abandoned for years after his killing, is occupied by his relatives now[25].


References

  1. ^ Fighting for Faith and Nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155
  2. ^ http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/726/etd1604.pdf
  3. ^ Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups by Stephen E. Atkins
  4. ^ Fighting for faith and nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood
  5. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081010/punjab1.htm#11
  6. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google
  7. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3810376.html
  8. ^ Terrorism & It's Effects By Juan Sanchez, various
  9. ^ Genesis of terrorism By Satyapal Dang
  10. ^ Fighting for Faith and Nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155
  11. ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
  12. ^ Fighting for faith and nation By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood
  13. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=PA168&dq=general+labh+singh+fighting+for+faith+and+nation&lr=&num=100&ei=upDaSOfhJKDitQPG2-XeDg&sig=ACfU3U2YnlXSW49kQTTEBo8RDhPhpDFIfQ
  14. ^ Fighting for Faith and Nation by By Cynthia Keppley Mahmood - Page 155
  15. ^ 'Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups' by Stephen E. Atkins
  16. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=AK6QA_WotRYC&pg=PT161&dq=general+labh+singh&ei=Rj83Sq-cM5DOlQSi97GnAQ
  17. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020125/punjab1.htm
  18. ^ http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=4e9019ee-c9cd-4459-8a1f-e4f08238125e
  19. ^ http://www.sikhtimes.com/sikhism_timeline.html
  20. ^ a b http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58240583.html?dids=58240583:58240583&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+13%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Sikh+Separatists+Masquerade+as+Police+to+Stage+India's+Biggest+Bank+Robbery&pqatl=google
  21. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3810376.html
  22. ^ http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/backgrounder/index.html
  23. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=z9GG4__JJNwC&pg=PA399&dq=general+labh+singh&ei=NUs3StXSGYSukASb1pCoAQ
  24. ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
  25. ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
Retrieved from "https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=General_Labh_Singh&oldid=75778"