Ajit Singh Poohla
Ajit Singh Poohla, the self proclaimed Jathedar of the Tarna Dal, is dead. Yet some people are still terrorized by memories of him. However, since an organized group has started to make people aware of Poohla’s actions, people who have witnessed Poohla commit heinous crimes have started to emerge and speak openly about the crimes he has committed. One of the witnesses is Poohla’s former personal assistant, nihung Swaranjit Singh. A long interview was held with him. What Swaranjit Singh has stated is a disgrace for the Indian government. It is known from the interview that the Indian government has participated or known every crime he had committed and has protected Poohla.
Background
What is Poohla’s background? Poohla can have religious motivation by no chance after looking at his background. Poohla’s father’s name was Nahar Singh Naamdhari. Poohla’s name was Jaswinder Singh. While studying in government college in Ludhiana, Jaswinder was known as a Good Fighter who used his thug tactics in the college to place fear into other students. In 1981, while gambling, his group had a fight over 14,000 rupees. His four mates - Susheel Kumar, Rakaish Kumar, Satpal and Susheel Kumar (another one) - jointly fired bullets at a person named Gurcharan Singh while under the influence of liquor. Gurcharan Singh escaped but a person walking was injured. A case was filed against Jaswinder and his mates. The other three culprits were caught but Jaswinder managed to escape. He was wanted by police. Jaswinder went to Kahnay Nihung. Another party found out and told the police. However, Kahnay talked to SSP D. R. Bhatti and had the file closed. Jaswinder had now become Ajit Singh Poohla/Nihung. That case has also been reopened after serious protests by people.
Recruitment
Poohla frequently visited other Nihung deras and took any useful person with him. He talked nicely and lovingly to persuade the person to come with him. Swaranjit Singh’s father was a nihung with the Buddha Dal. A nihung named Santokh Singh from Sultanpur Lodhi sang praises of Poohla and influenced Swaranjit Singh to meet Ajit Poohla. Swaranjit Singh lived at a Gurudwara in a village named Kohaarh Kalan with his family. Poohla came to the village one day and stayed overnight. In the early morning, before Sunrise, Poohla woke up and saw Swaranjit Singh doing Paath and Kirtan. Poohla didn’t have anyone in his Dal with these capabilities. His Dal was full of people who were drug addicts and didn’t follow any part of Sikhism. He convinced Swaranjit Singh and his family to come with him to a Gurudwara located in Sector 39-C in Chandigarh. Swaranjit Singh was very useful to him because he did not take any drugs and was Metric pass in English. Poohla made Swaranjit Singh as his personal assistant.
On the other hand when Swaranjit Singh saw behind Poohla’s public act of piety, he was shocked for he learned that Poohla drank every-night in the basements of various forts. He drank almost a liter of liquor everyday. Then he played music on a deck and started dancing. He also kept an eunuch [1] named Lavli with him and made 'her' dance with her. Then after some time, he would go behind closed doors with Lavli.
Moral Corruption
Not only did he commit adultery with eunuchs, he was know for putting his hands on every woman or girl he came into contact with. Swaranjit Singh decided to part company with him, but he soon found out that leaving Poohla’s gang was the same as calling on death. It is a tradition that Nihungs have to ask their leader before leaving them. Nihung Thaan Singh, the son of Bhai Kapoor Singh, wanted to leave Poohla’s group and asked for permission. When Poohla was asked for permission, Poohla replied:
- “Ya! He wants to leave, send him to the future.” So Thaan Singh was beaten up and then burned alive at dera Jhootha in Kartarpur. The same thing happened to one of his companions named Savinder Singh. He also wanted to leave Poohla. Savinder Singh, also called Thattha Fauji, was from a village named Reaali Bhangali. A hymn singer named Gurdial Singh was also killed as he was handed over to police officer Paramraj Umranangal.
Links to Punjab Police
Swaranjit Singh and other witnesses state that police officers Paramraj Umranangal, Sumaid Saini, Ajit Sandhu, Jasminder (Singh?) and some other police officers frequently visited Poohla and they all drank liquor together. Many times police officers asked Poohla to give them some people so they could kill them to show police encounters. Sometimes Poohla sent people from his own gang and other times he sent people from other states to the police officers. People come from other states come to Punjab to earn a living. Poohla did this so his police officers friends could get higher ranks and then provide support to Poohla in return. For these favors, Poohla received weapons, tractors, automobiles, jeeps, etc. from police officers. These items were usually the property of innocent people who were killed in fake encounters or were the property of soldiers who died fighting for freedom for the Sikh nation. Poohla even received Nishan Sahibs, which were raised in memory of Sikhs who died for Khalistan, from police officers. Poohla usually sold these items to others. Any illegal drugs that were seized were sent to Poohla in government vehicles.
Insult of Sikhi
Baba Charan Singh took care of Sikh Gurudwaras. Poohla had Charan Singh killed by S.S.P. Ajit Sandhu. After the division of the money with Ajit Sandhu, Poohla’s gang looted everything in the dera. According to Swaranjit Singh, one of Poohla’s nakli (fake) nihungs was saying:
- “Jathedar Ji! We have taken everything, should I also bring the (Guru) Granth (Sahib Ji) under my arm?”
Swaranjit Singh has told that at one time, that Poohla decorated his Svaraj Mazda and placed the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in it. This was just a bit of drama as he doesn’t have any respect for Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In reality, he uses his Svaraj Mazda for transporting liquor and other drugs. This car was driven by Poohla under the influence of liquor in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Swaranjit Singh also states that at one time Poohla went to Darbar Sahib after drinking liquor. At the gate, security official stopped Poohla and told him not to go in. Poohla pushed him and said foul words. He entered with his government weapons and even entered the Darbar Sahib and the Akaal Takht. Whenever Poohla took over a Gurudwara, he turned it into a fort. In the name of taking care of Gurudwara, he stopped buses, trucks, etc. and told the drivers to collect people from villages. In case the drivers might decide not to return, as insurance he kept their vehicle papers with him. No one was paid for oil or for the work anyone did for him at the Gurudwara. No complaints were heard against Poohla as the governmental machinery was behind him. Learning from him, Poohla’s brother Malkit also collected some policemen and openly looted many buses but no action was taken against him.
Rapes
A woman named Amriko from Amarkoat who was a well known friend of Poohla supplied girls to him. Poohla killed many people for her, so she could take over lands of people by force. Poohla used his buddy police officers to get her an honorable award from the Indian government.
According to Swaranjit Singh, Poohla would also get familiar with the wives of people in his gang. No one spoke against him in fear. At the start, Poohla had a hobby of having sexual intercourse with older women but then his tast in women turned to young girls. It was atrocious when this monster criminal grabbed a 7 year old daughter of a nihung who had come to his dera. The girl’s mother was dead. Poohla took her to the basement in his complex in village Poohla and raped her all night. The little girl died screaming and crying in pain. When her father tried to save the honour of his daughter, he was beaten up and barely managed to escape with his own life. The girl’s dead body was cut into small pieces and thrown into the river Beas near Sri Hargobindpur.
Everyone who Poohla killed was usually cut into pieces and thrown into this river. When he reached the river, he would cut the body into small pieces, and then Poohla threw each piece into the river himself. In the end, he held the head from the hair and threw it hard into the river while saying:
- “Come on friend, now you've become feed for fish. Then while drugged, he told his drugged up friends, “Don’t catch fish from that area for two to three days, the food which we just fed the fish, let them digest it first, we will eat them after.”
The tactics Poohla used to torture others were also monstrous. A person was laid belly down and one of Poohla’s gang members was told to sit on the hip. Then the feet of the victim were lifted up. Poohla beat up the victim until his feet were swollen with soreness.
There was also a member of Poohla’s gang named Wassan (Singh?). He was also known as trap. He was a native of village Bhumboeee. He tied a person’s both hands together at the wrists facing downward. Then he slowly rotated the arms to bring the hands toward the head. The person being tortured cried out loud in pain but no one from the Indian justice system heard the pains.
Dayal Singh, son of Mahil Singh, from the same Bhumboeee village had a mare (female horse) that danced. Wassan told Poohla about this horse. Poohla asked for the mare but the poor man had his daily living from the mare. He told Poohla that the mare belongs to his brother. Hearing this, Poohla decided to teach Dayal Singh a lesson. One day Dayal Singh went to sell his wheat crop to the market and from there Wassan fooled him and took him to Poohla.
Poohla and Amriko ordered him to be laid down for not giving the mare. Poohla’s thugs started hitting the poor man with the backs of their guns to show their loyalty towards Poohla. He was beaten and repeatedly asked if he was going to give the mare. Dayal Singh kept on saying that the horse belonged to his brother. Getting hit with the guns, his head was now open and Poohla then ordered Wassan to play his trap. Unable to take all the torture, Dayal Singh died on the spot. Dayal Singh’s dead body was also thrown into the river. Poohla and Amriko ordered this torture and were directly responsible for Dayal’s death. Sometimes Poohla repeatedly hit people in the head with the heels of his boots and made their heads bleed.
Attacks on Taksal
Mehta Chownk Damdami Taksal was raided many times due to Baba Thakur Singh Ji’s personal attendant (Bhai Sukhwinder Singh) and other young men. Baba Resham Singh of Kar Seva was approached by an old Taksali, named Khem Singh, to clear this issue through Poohla. Poohla was also offered some inducement for clearing this issue with police. Poohla asked for the seven youth from Damdami Taksal and they were given to Poohla. Poohla kept on delaying the dismissal of their case with police. Due to this, an admirer of Taksal talked to some high officials in police to dismiss the cases of the seven youth. Poohla was enraged at this. Ajit Sandhu and Paramraj were already looking for these young men. Poohla handed all seven boys over to Paramraj and Sandhu. All seven were killed next day in a fake police encounter. Poohla kept on asking Resham Singh for money but Resham Singh said, “You have gotten the boys killed … Now what should I give you the money for?†Poohla became angry and also had Resham Singh kidnapped and killed by police.
Burning of Jattana Family
Phoola and his armed brigade raided the house of Jattana in the wee hours of August 29 , 1991, and burnt alive four women, named Jasmer Kaur (chachi), Dawarki Kaur (grandmother), Manpreet Kaur ( a class VII student) and Harsimranjit Kaur, a six-year-old handicapped girl.
Co-incidentally? Phoola's death fall, was exactly 17 years to the day since Phoola and his gang had committed this inhumane act.
Kidnap of Ratinderbir Kaur
A top quality and well known Kavisher’s, Bhai Joga Singh’s, grand-daughter Ratinderbir Kaur was only 16 years old when Poohla kidnapped her and made her an object to fulfill his lust. Poohla forcefully picked her up from her house and did not allow her to go back for 4-5 days. Bhai Joga Singh sent telegrams to high officials, chief minister and the DGP (Direct General of Police). DIG Jasminder and SSP from Majitha just kept quiet. No action was taken against Poohla. Even the so-called Akali ministers Sukha Singh Langah and Seva Singh Saikhvaa didn’t do anything against Poohla. At that time, Ratinderbir Kaur hadn’t come home for 2 months. When no one in the government listened, Joga Singh went to High Court. High Court asked the relevant police officers for an answer. The police officers went to Poohla and said, “Now we have to give an answer, find a solution.â€
Poohla contacted his friend advocate Deepinder Dhillon. He created false marriage papers for under-aged Ratinderbir Kaur. A girl has to be at least 18 to marry in India. Poohla’s friends sent to letter to High Court stating, “The girl has married Poohla under her own will and is living with him under her own will.â€
After getting away from legal conflicts, he took out his anger at Joga Singh’s grand-daughter. He handed her over to his other thug gang member s and ordered all of them to rape her. Innocent girl was attacked by these sexual predators all night. Swaranjit Singh is the witness to all of this.
Taking the assaults from Poohla and his gang, Ratinderbir Kaur developed a mental condition. Ratinderbir Kaur is the daughter of a martyr Singh who died for Sikh freedom. People who had fear of Akaal prayed to Akaal so Poohla’s pitcher of sins could be broken. People prayed for Poohla to be behind bars or dead. Finally one day, Bhai Joga Singh and some other relatives came and took the mental Ratinderbir Kaur with them. A person who lived with Poohla for a short while and had seen the assaults on Ratinderbir Kaur take place came forward and offered to marry Ratinderbir Kaur. Rising against Poohla’s vicious actions, Jathedar Deep Singh and his group members provided protection with their weapons so this wedding could take place. However, Poohla later got this young man entangled in thug brother Malkit’s murder. He probably killed him himself.
Poohla’s friend police officers frequently visited him for drinking liquor together. Swaranjit Singh still remembers some of the things they talked about. He remembers one incident and states that at one time Umranangal and Poohla were drinking together and according to Swaranjit Singh, they had the following conversation:
Umranangal: “My mother came to me and started crying.†Poohla: “Why ..?†Umranangal: “She read in the newspaper that SP Umranangal escaped a police encounter very closely.†Poohla: “What happened?†Umranangal: “What happened was that we made a fake police encounter in which I shot a bullet barely touching my skin under my arm and then in the newspaper….â€
Swaranjit Singh says that Umranangal laughed after saying this and then Poohla and his other gang members also burst out laughing.
When the security of all those people with security was going down, Poohla contacted his buddy police officers and made a plan. He made a woman who he used for his lust to drink liquefied cannabis drink. When she became unconscious, he tied a time bomb around her and blew her up. He told outsiders that a woman had come to blow him with a bomb just like Rajiv Gandhi was blown up with a bomb by Thannu. Poohla’s security wasn’t decreased due to this.
Swaranjit Singh Escapes
Swaranjit Singh was now seriously looking for a way out of Poohla’s gang. Another way of calling death was leaving Poohla’s gang. Swaranjit could no longer watch Poohla commit his vicious crimes. Swaranjit Singh made contacts with Jathedar Deep Singh. Poohla had his suspicions too. To place fear into Swaranjit Singh, Poohla beat him and told SSP Sumaid Saini of Chandigarh to take over Swaranjit Singh’s family living in the sector 39-C Gurudwara in Chandigarh. For his family’s safety, Swaranjit Singh delayed his leave for a while and started making plans to rescue his family from Poohla’s trap.
Subedar Harbhajan Singh is a building materials provider from the village Ghumman. Poohla had been receiving cement and iron rods from Harbhajan Singh. When Poohla had purchases of around 500,000 rupees, Harbhajan Singh started asking for payment. According to Harbhajan Singh, whenever he went to ask Poohla for money, Poohla had a woman sitting on his lap and Poohla was highly under the influence of alcohol. Under the influence, Poohla asked the girl, “You are the judge … You make the decision … This pervert comes and asks for money everyday.†Poohla used these tactics and didn’t pay Harbhajan Singh anything.
One day Harbhajan Singh’s son went into Poohla’s mansion and asked for money. Poohla pushed him out and said, “Sucker … I will shoot you and throw you into the river if you do too much talking.†Harbhajan Singh’s son was so scared that he died three or four days after the threat.
Swaranjit Singh tells that the River Department had left a way for the sarovar of Gurudwara Damdama Sahib at Sri Hargobindpur to be filled with fresh water from the river. Poohla has taken over the Gurudwara and is selling the water to local farmers. In 1997, Poohla was charging 325 rupees per hour for water to flow to the farmers’ fields. How much is being charged now is not known.
Also in 1997, Akali government came. Even though they were also backing up Poohla, Swaranjit Singh asked Minister Ajit Singh Kohar for help to free his family from Poohla. Ajit Singh met Swaranjit Singh when he Swaranjit Singh had gone to court in Chandigarh for a task which Poohla wanted completed. Swaranjit Singh told Ajit Singh Kohar everything and told him that he wanted to be free from Poohla. Ajit Singh Kohar suggested that Swaranjit Singh free his family first. Somehow Ajit Singh Kohar freed his family from Poohla and appointed SSP from Nawashehar to protect Swaranjit Singh’s family members. Swaranjit Singh left Poohla and started living in his village. Poohla considered the situation and then sent messages to Swaranjit Singh to come back. Poohla tried to bribe Swaranjit Singh and presented him some offers. He offered him to select a dera and told him that he would become the chief of that dera. However, after living in Poohla’s gang for a long time, Swaranjit Singh knew the game which Poohla was trying to play. Poohla wanted him to come so he could kill him too and feed him to the fish in the River Beas. Poohla didn’t want anyone from his gang to leave because the person leaving would know all the crimes that he had committed. Fortunately, Swaranjit Singh didn’t come into his trap again.
Then another incident happened. A young nihung named Sukhdev Singh from the same village, Ghumman was also persuaded by Poohla to join his group. Sukhdev Singh left after witnessing the crimes Poohla committed. He left without telling Poohla. Poohla started looking for him. While looking for a job, Sukhdev Singh went to Patiala where he met Paramraj Umranangal. He requested Umranangal: “Sir ..! You also visited Poohla and I used to live there. I will be thankful if you could find me a job in this area as a Granthi at a Gurudwara.†Paramraj made him a promise but on the other hand Paramraj contacted Poohla and asked for advice. After listening to Paramraj, Poohla jumped and said: “Sukhdev Singh from village Ghumman …? He is my hunt… I am coming to get him…†To make two kills with one arrow, Poohla brought Sukhdev Singh to Nawashehar police district and then near a town called Bheraam, he tied Sukhdev Singh to a tree and cut him into small pieces with a sword. Pieces were later thrown at the grave of a Muslim saint.
Then some of his loyal police officers started investigating the murder. They turned to Swaranjit Singh and started investigating him but they soon realized that he was innocent. The village council went to police and made them believe that Swaranjit Singh is innocent so village council got him freed from jail. When the finger pointed to Poohla, he had the file closed by his partner police officers.
Poohla also looted a truck full of metal rods which were going for Radha Swami dera. Poohla didn’t know that the Radha Swami babas had more power in the Indian government than him. Poohla only has reach up to the state government but Radha Swamis have reach as far as the central government. It took only one call by Radha Swamis that Poohla handed over the materials to Radha Swamis babas while folding his hands.
While having power from the Indian government, Poohla sometimes goes over the limit. Therefore, he has to face some depressing times. Poohla has a habit of jumping at expensive things and taking over. This was the case in 2001. He saw a foreign vehicle in his area and took over by force. He also told the riders that people call him Poohla. That vehicle belonged to distanced relatives of India’s Home Minister, Lal Kishan Advani.
The owners of the vehicle were nervous and called Advani. Badal was the Chief Minister of Punjab at that time. Advani didn’t care about government of Punjab anyways so he directly called Chief on Punjab police and asked for Poohla. Police Chief told SSP Shashi Prabha from Majitha police to arrest Poohla. Shahsi Prabha surrounded Poohla’s fort and arrested him. Poohla was handcuffed and then given to Delhi police who had come to Chandigarh to take him to Delhi. This made people in Punjab happy but his friends were already in action to get him free. He was freed with the help of his powerful friends.
Public Outrage
Now as the people’s protests have begun openly against Poohla, the file has been reopened and Poohla has been arrested. After this, other cases have also been opened and investigations have begun. Slowly many more cases will be placed against Poohla. Poohla’s partner police officers and ministers are still trying their best to free him; even though they have not done anything openly to free him. They are helping him greatly in jail. Due to these entities, Poohla is receiving liquor and other drugs openly in jail. Also due to them, Poohla holds a press conference openly while on a trial in court. Poohla also goes to his deras in police vehicles so that his thugs don’t give up and so that his fear remains in public.
It is very important that Poohla’s friend officers and ministers are also placed on trial for the crimes that Poohla and they have committed. They have been equally responsible for Poohla’s crimes.
Sikhs revenge
On August 28, Poohla's uncountable crimes were avenged by Bhai Navtej Singh Guggu and Bhai Harchand Singh. They set Ajit Singh Poohla on fire. He got between 70-80% burnt. He died next day at around 7:30 AM Indian Set Time.
References
The following is based on magazine Fatehnama, published from India
