Beant Singh: Difference between revisions

From SikhiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
mNo edit summary
(added details)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Beant Singh''', son of Suchcha Singh, a resident of Maloa ( District Ropar), along with [[Satwant Singh]] assassinated Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister.
'''Beant Singh''', son of Suchcha Singh, a resident of Maloa ( District Ropar), along with [[Satwant Singh]] assassinated Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister.


Earlier on 1 June 1984 on the orders of Indira Gandhi, the Indian Army attacked the Harmandir Sahib complex, in an attempt to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindaranwale and his supporters. During the attack which was concentrated mainly on the Akal Takht, which suffered severe damage, the Harmander Sahib, the holiest Sikh shrine, suffered damage as well in the attack called Operation Blue Star.  
Earlier on 1 June 1984 on the orders of Indira Gandhi, the Indian Army attacked the Harmandir Sahib complex, in an attempt to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindaranwale and his supporters. During the attack which was concentrated mainly on the Akal Takht, which suffered severe damage, the Harmander Sahib, the holiest Sikh shrine, suffered damage as well in the attack called Operation Blue Star.


These events caused outrage amongst the Sikh community, which claimed that the attacks were pre-planned and that anti-Sikh violence which followed was government orchestrated. Beant Singh and Satwant Singh were Sikh bodyguards of Indira Gandhi, yet on 31 October 1984 they assassinated her in her garden.
These events caused outrage amongst the Sikh community, which claimed that the attacks were pre-planned and that anti-Sikh violence which followed was government orchestrated. On 24th October 1984, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, both part of the elite forces who served as bodyguards for the Prime-minister, took Amrit at a Gurdwara in Delhi. Neither were particularly knowledgeable on Gurbani, but Operation Blue Star and the legend of Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh were foremost in their mind. This is what led them to take the blessing of Amrit.


Beant Singh was killed by gunfire at the scene of the assassination. Satwant Singh was arrested and later sentenced to death, along with Kehar Singh.
Satwant Singh always had the late shift, and Beant Singh the early shift. They had to work out a way for both to be on duty together. On 31st October, Satwant Singh faked a stomach bug, and swapped duties with another guard. Now they had to decide how to do the task. They decided that the best time was when Indira Gandhi was taking her daily walk. On the morning of 31st October, 1984 at 9am, as Indira Gandhi walked from her house to her office at Safardajung Road, Bhai Beant Singh shot her 5 times with his service revolver. Bhai Satwant Singh at the same time lifted his Thompson Stengun and shot 28 bullets. Seeing Indira Gandhi fall, all of her PA`s and ministers ran for their lives. The Indo-Tibetian Border Police commandos, who also guarded the grounds would not come close. Both Singhs shouted "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!!".


The Singhs shouted, "We have done what we needed to, now you can do what you have to." Then both placed their weapons on the floor. Only then did the other guards come and arrest them. Both Singhs were taken to a room, and waited for a senior officer to interrogate them. While waiting, the commandos started swearing at the Singhs. Not tolerating this, Bhai Satwant Singh slapped the commando and a struggle ensued in which Satwant singh grabbed the commandos handgun. The other commandos started shooting at the Singhs. Bhai Beant Singh died there from the gunshot wounds. Bhai Satwant Singh was seriously injured.
On the arrival of a senior officer, Bhai Satwant Singh was taken to the hospital. The officers wanted to know who else was part of the conspiracy. They did not know that these Singhs had acted alone.
Satwant Singh was arrested and later sentenced to death, along with [[Kehar Singh]] the uncle of Beant Singh.
----------
Coincidently, Beant Singh is also the name of a former Chief Minister, of an Indian State of Punjab, who was assassinated.
Coincidently, Beant Singh is also the name of a former Chief Minister, of an Indian State of Punjab, who was assassinated.


[[Category:Sikh Martyrs]]
[[Category:Sikh Martyrs]]

Revision as of 15:19, 12 March 2008

Beant Singh, son of Suchcha Singh, a resident of Maloa ( District Ropar), along with Satwant Singh assassinated Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister.

Earlier on 1 June 1984 on the orders of Indira Gandhi, the Indian Army attacked the Harmandir Sahib complex, in an attempt to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindaranwale and his supporters. During the attack which was concentrated mainly on the Akal Takht, which suffered severe damage, the Harmander Sahib, the holiest Sikh shrine, suffered damage as well in the attack called Operation Blue Star.

These events caused outrage amongst the Sikh community, which claimed that the attacks were pre-planned and that anti-Sikh violence which followed was government orchestrated. On 24th October 1984, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, both part of the elite forces who served as bodyguards for the Prime-minister, took Amrit at a Gurdwara in Delhi. Neither were particularly knowledgeable on Gurbani, but Operation Blue Star and the legend of Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh were foremost in their mind. This is what led them to take the blessing of Amrit.

Satwant Singh always had the late shift, and Beant Singh the early shift. They had to work out a way for both to be on duty together. On 31st October, Satwant Singh faked a stomach bug, and swapped duties with another guard. Now they had to decide how to do the task. They decided that the best time was when Indira Gandhi was taking her daily walk. On the morning of 31st October, 1984 at 9am, as Indira Gandhi walked from her house to her office at Safardajung Road, Bhai Beant Singh shot her 5 times with his service revolver. Bhai Satwant Singh at the same time lifted his Thompson Stengun and shot 28 bullets. Seeing Indira Gandhi fall, all of her PA`s and ministers ran for their lives. The Indo-Tibetian Border Police commandos, who also guarded the grounds would not come close. Both Singhs shouted "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!!".

The Singhs shouted, "We have done what we needed to, now you can do what you have to." Then both placed their weapons on the floor. Only then did the other guards come and arrest them. Both Singhs were taken to a room, and waited for a senior officer to interrogate them. While waiting, the commandos started swearing at the Singhs. Not tolerating this, Bhai Satwant Singh slapped the commando and a struggle ensued in which Satwant singh grabbed the commandos handgun. The other commandos started shooting at the Singhs. Bhai Beant Singh died there from the gunshot wounds. Bhai Satwant Singh was seriously injured.

On the arrival of a senior officer, Bhai Satwant Singh was taken to the hospital. The officers wanted to know who else was part of the conspiracy. They did not know that these Singhs had acted alone.

Satwant Singh was arrested and later sentenced to death, along with Kehar Singh the uncle of Beant Singh.


Coincidently, Beant Singh is also the name of a former Chief Minister, of an Indian State of Punjab, who was assassinated.