Mari Butchian Encounter

Battles of the Khalistan Movement, A continuing Series

On early morning of 8th April 1990, at village Mari Butchian near Sri Hargobindpur, police and border security force's surrounded the house were Bhai Jugraj Singh Toofan was staying for the night and the encounter started. On this day, Jugraj Singh was sick and a trusted person went to the city to fetch some medicine for him. When Jugraj Singh started to use his AK 94 gun, he found out that the pin of his gun is missing. At that time Bhai Sahib realized that the person who went to city for medicine was a traitor and he took out the pin form gun and then sent the police on him. All five Singh's got out of the home to save the innocent lives and ran into the field of sugarcane. Three Singh's went to one side while Jugraj Singh and Bakshish Singh went the other way. During this gun battle Jugraj Singh got hit by a bullet in his leg and was unable to move, so he asked Bakshish to leave him but Bakshish Singh refused to leave him alone. Bhai Bakshish Singh lifted Jugraj Singh on his shoulder's and tried to escape on a tractor but tractor got stuck in the field and they were both hit by police bullets. Jugraj Singh died on the tractor while Bakshish Singh hid behind some houses and kept fighting and later died of bullet injuries. Other three Singh's including Bhai Baljit Singh and Bhai Piara Singh were able to escape from the gun battle.