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The '''Khalistan Commando Force''' was one of the pre-eminent Sikh freedom fighting organisations whose goal was the eventual formation of the Sikh state of Khalistan, encompassing areas within Indian territory, most notably the Punjab as well as some districts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. The Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), alongwith the Babbar Khalsa, the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK), constituted the mainstay of Sikh freedom fighters throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
The '''Khalistan Commando Force''' (KCF) was a [[Sikhism|Sikh]] militant organization whose goal was the eventual formation of the Sikh state of [[Khalistan]], which would encompass [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[India]], as well as some districts of neighboring states. The KCF, along with the [[Babbar Khalsa]], the [[Khalistan Liberation Force]], and the [[Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan]], clashed repeatedly with the [[Indian Army]] forces during the 1980s and early 1990s as well as the Punjab police.


The Khalistan Commando Force was formed by a former police officer, Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha Sipahi, who later changed his name to Labh Singh. The Khalistan Commando Force had a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accomodate any potential setbacks: the undisputed head of the Khalistan Commando Force, until his death, was Shaheedi General Labh Singh. 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.
==Formation==
The Khalistan Commando Force was formed by a former police officer, Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha Sipahi, who later changed his name to Labh Singh. The Khalistan Commando Force had a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accommodate any potential setbacks. The undisputed head of the Khalistan Commando Force, until his death, was Labh Singh. 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.


The Khalistan Commando Force believed in the consolidation of the Sikh majority in Punjab. This in turn would further their aim of a Sikh republic. This policy manifested itself in the killing of migrant workers, resulting in a Hindu exodus from Punjab. In the eyes of many, this was justified as a means to an end and seen as a way of protecting Sikhism within the confines of Punjab, if not Khalistan.
==Major operations==
The organization primarily battled Indian military forces, especially in revenge for [[Operation Blue Star]], the government's 1984 military operation in the [[Harimandir Sahib]] (Golden Temple) in [[Amritsar]]. It attacked Sikh's in Punjab in what the government described as an attempt to drive the Sikh minority out of the region,<ref>Ravi Sharma, Militants kill rivals over family's slaying, ''[[United Press International]]'', 1 January 1988.</ref> and sometimes attacked sellers of alcohol, cigarettes, and other items prohibited by conservative Sikhism.<ref>Brown, Derek. Fanatical Sikhs turn on traders, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 8 April 1987.</ref>


The death of Shaheedi General Labh Singh on July 12 1988 in an encounter with police dealt a knockout blow to the organisation, causing its eventual splintering. Whereas before Shaheedi General Labh Singh had been a charismatic chief whose leadership was unquestioned, many of his Lieutenant Generals emerged after his death, vying with each other for control. The eventual result was the breakup of the Khalistan Commando Force into several factions, most notably those led by Wassan Singh Zaffarwal (KCF-Zaffarwal), Paramjit Singh Panjwar (KCF-Panjwar) and Gurjant Singh Rajasthani (KCF-Rajasthani). To make matters worse, each of these chose to be under different Panthic Committees (umbrella groups that directed aims and actions), thereby diversifying and weakening the focus of the Sikh freedom fighters.
==Decline==
The death of Labh Singh on [[July 12]] [[1988]] in an encounter with police dealt a knockout blow to the organisation, causing its eventual splintering. Whereas before Labh Singh had been a charismatic chief whose leadership was unquestioned, many of his Lieutenant Generals emerged after his death, vying with each other for control. The eventual result was the break-up of the Khalistan Commando Force into several factions, most notably those led by Wassan Singh Zaffarwal (KCF-Zaffarwal), Paramjit Singh Panjwar (KCF-Panjwar) and Gurjant Singh Rajasthani (KCF-Rajasthani). To make matters worse, each of these chose to be under different Panthic Committees (umbrella groups that directed aims and actions), thereby diversifying and weakening the focus of the Sikh militants.  


Another setback to the Sikh struggle was the cessation in co-operation between the Khalistan Commando Force and the Babbar Khalsa. The rapproachment that had been fostering between Shaheedi General Labh Singh and Shaheedi Sukhdev Singh Babbar was put on ice and eventually disintegrated altogether, leading to the overall weakening of the Sikh struggle.
Another setback to the Sikh rebellion was the cessation in co-operation between the Khalistan Commando Force and the Babbar Khalsa. The rapprochement that had been fostering between Labh Singh and [[Sukhdev Singh Babbar]] was put on ice and eventually disintegrated altogether, leading to the overall weakening of the Sikh struggle.


The eventual capture and killing of several of the Khalistan Commando Force's Lieutenant Generals and Area Commanders eventually took its toll and many of the factions were eliminated by virtue of the brutal tactics enforced by Punjab Police and the Indian security forces. These tactics included torture of suspected fighters, the gangrape and killing of families of suspected fighters and the use of the state machinery against families of suspected individuals.
The eventual capture and killing of several of the Khalistan Commando Force's Lieutenant Generals and Area Commanders eventually took its toll and many of the factions were eliminated by the Punjab Police and the Indian security forces.  


Nowadays, the Khalistan Commando Force is a shadow of its former self. Once feared by the Indian security forces and Punjab police alike, its leaders have either given themselves up (for example, Wassan Singh Zafferwal, whose shameful and meek surrender to Punjab Police angered many still active freedom fighters) or been killed (Shaheedi General Labh Singh). The only faction that is still active to a significant extent is the Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar), which operates out of Pakistan. The lethality and effectiveness of this freedom fighting organisation is still feared by Indian security circles, hence the demand for the extradiction of Paramjit Singh Panjwar from Pakistan.
After the major defeats of the KCF in the late 1980s, the group continued its struggle into the 1990s, sometimes working together with other Sikh militant groups. A June 1991 attack on a passenger train in northwestern Punjab killed about fifty, mostly Hindu, passengers.<ref>Ravi Sharma, Massacre on passenger trains turns routine trip nightmare, ''United Press International'', 16 June 1991.</ref> A September 1993 bombing in [[New Delhi]] targeting [[Indian Youth Congress]] president [[Maninder Singh Bitta]] that killed eight people.<ref>Three Sikh militant factions claim Delhi blast, ''[[Agence France-Presse]]'' 13 September 1993.</ref>


The Khalistan Commando Force, like many other freedom fighting organisations, enjoys solid support outside of Punjab and has the potential to resurrect its fortunes in the future. Its structure has been decimated by the evil tactics shown by the Indian Government. Nevertheless, the emergence of a charismatic leader akin to Shaheedi General Labh Singh, coupled with the organisation's legacy and history could see its ultimate resurgence.
==Present status==
As of [[2006]], the only operating remnant of the KCF is the Panjwar faction, which is based largely in Pakistan.  In [[June]] [[2006]] a member of the Panjwar faction of the KCF, Kulbir Singh Barapind was extradited from [[USA]] to [[India]]. He was deported to India for belonging to a terrorist organization and for entering the United States with a false passport. He was wanted in India for thirty-two cases, but was arrested for three murders in the early 1990s.
<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1664254.cms Kulbir Singh sent to police custody], ''The Times of India'', [[19 June]] 2006.</ref>  After his arrest he stated that he would renew the Khalistan movement through peaceful means.<ref>[http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=309064&sid=REG  Zee News, India, "Judicial remand of Khalistan militant extended till July 27"] [[14 July]] [[2006]]</ref>
 
==References==

Revision as of 17:30, 29 July 2007

The Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) was a Sikh militant organization whose goal was the eventual formation of the Sikh state of Khalistan, which would encompass Punjab, India, as well as some districts of neighboring states. The KCF, along with the Babbar Khalsa, the Khalistan Liberation Force, and the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan, clashed repeatedly with the Indian Army forces during the 1980s and early 1990s as well as the Punjab police.

Formation

The Khalistan Commando Force was formed by a former police officer, Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha Sipahi, who later changed his name to Labh Singh. The Khalistan Commando Force had a fluid hierarchy, enabling it to accommodate any potential setbacks. The undisputed head of the Khalistan Commando Force, until his death, was Labh Singh. 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.

Major operations

The organization primarily battled Indian military forces, especially in revenge for Operation Blue Star, the government's 1984 military operation in the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. It attacked Sikh's in Punjab in what the government described as an attempt to drive the Sikh minority out of the region,[1] and sometimes attacked sellers of alcohol, cigarettes, and other items prohibited by conservative Sikhism.[2]

Decline

The death of Labh Singh on July 12 1988 in an encounter with police dealt a knockout blow to the organisation, causing its eventual splintering. Whereas before Labh Singh had been a charismatic chief whose leadership was unquestioned, many of his Lieutenant Generals emerged after his death, vying with each other for control. The eventual result was the break-up of the Khalistan Commando Force into several factions, most notably those led by Wassan Singh Zaffarwal (KCF-Zaffarwal), Paramjit Singh Panjwar (KCF-Panjwar) and Gurjant Singh Rajasthani (KCF-Rajasthani). To make matters worse, each of these chose to be under different Panthic Committees (umbrella groups that directed aims and actions), thereby diversifying and weakening the focus of the Sikh militants.

Another setback to the Sikh rebellion was the cessation in co-operation between the Khalistan Commando Force and the Babbar Khalsa. The rapprochement that had been fostering between Labh Singh and Sukhdev Singh Babbar was put on ice and eventually disintegrated altogether, leading to the overall weakening of the Sikh struggle.

The eventual capture and killing of several of the Khalistan Commando Force's Lieutenant Generals and Area Commanders eventually took its toll and many of the factions were eliminated by the Punjab Police and the Indian security forces.

After the major defeats of the KCF in the late 1980s, the group continued its struggle into the 1990s, sometimes working together with other Sikh militant groups. A June 1991 attack on a passenger train in northwestern Punjab killed about fifty, mostly Hindu, passengers.[3] A September 1993 bombing in New Delhi targeting Indian Youth Congress president Maninder Singh Bitta that killed eight people.[4]

Present status

As of 2006, the only operating remnant of the KCF is the Panjwar faction, which is based largely in Pakistan. In June 2006 a member of the Panjwar faction of the KCF, Kulbir Singh Barapind was extradited from USA to India. He was deported to India for belonging to a terrorist organization and for entering the United States with a false passport. He was wanted in India for thirty-two cases, but was arrested for three murders in the early 1990s. [5] After his arrest he stated that he would renew the Khalistan movement through peaceful means.[6]

References

  1. ^ Ravi Sharma, Militants kill rivals over family's slaying, United Press International, 1 January 1988.
  2. ^ Brown, Derek. Fanatical Sikhs turn on traders, The Guardian, 8 April 1987.
  3. ^ Ravi Sharma, Massacre on passenger trains turns routine trip nightmare, United Press International, 16 June 1991.
  4. ^ Three Sikh militant factions claim Delhi blast, Agence France-Presse 13 September 1993.
  5. ^ Kulbir Singh sent to police custody, The Times of India, 19 June 2006.
  6. ^ Zee News, India, "Judicial remand of Khalistan militant extended till July 27" 14 July 2006