Shaheed Bhai Anokh Singh Babbar

Bhai Sahib was one of the Singhs responsible for the assassination of the notorious Hindu Police Officer Gobind Ram. Gobind Ram tortured Singhs and Singhnees in prison, killing many. He urinated in a bowl and said to people, “you have tasted the Amrit of Gobind Singh, now taste the Amrit of Gobind Ram”. The Babbars did not allow this beadbi to go unnoticed, a bomb was planted under Gobind Ram’s desk and he was blown to pieces, his face having to be sown together even after he was killed. Witnesses claim that his body parts literally had to be swept off the floor.

Bhai Sahib was also very close to Sukhdev Singh Babbar and they often lived together, surviving only on a diet of chick peas and Naam (God’s name). Bhai Sahib was one of the Singhs defending Harmandir Sahib in 1984 and helped ferry pilgrims and others out of the complex during the attacks. Bhai Sahib’s story of Shaheedi (martyrdom) is an awe-inspiring one. On August 20th 1987 Bhai Sahib was arrested and taken into custody by the Punjabi Police. First his legs were torn open and hot metal rods were hammered into them from the heel upwards. Red hot metal rods were also passed through his chest. Bhai Sahib’s abdomen was ripped open and pins were put through his private area and electric shocks were given here. Both his eyeballs were gouged out but still under these immense tortures Bhai Sahib remained true to the legacy of thousands of martyrs before him, not uttering a single word or sound of pain. He remained silent only reciting “Waheguru”. Left on the ground after a torture session the evening had come so he asked the sentry for the time. Seeing it was time for Rehras Sahib Paath, Bhai Anokh Singh began reciting “Sodar tayra keyaa…” in an sweet voice. Despite his physical body vessel being shattered his soul was still attached to the Guru’s feet. This deeply affected the sentry, and Bhai Sahib then began his personal prayer after Ardas:

"Hay Akaal Purakh Suchay Paatshah Guru Nanak dev Gareeb Nivaaj Satguru, the day which rose in your bhaaNaa has passed in happiness, meditating on your Naam. Suchay Paatshah, night has arrived, may it too pass while remembering your Naam and in your BhaaNaa…Satguru, May I be a Shaheed…Suchay Patshaah, save me from becoming a traitor...Satguru, may the Sikhi and Kesh (hair) you have given me last with me till my final breaths…Such Paatshah, have mercy on all…Bolay So Nihaal…Sat Sri Akaal!!!"

Hearing these words and the Jaikara echoing through the police station, the sentry became disturbed and handed in his resignation immediately. The police then continued to remove Bhai Anokh Singh’s tongue with a metal saw, however as streams of blood ran down Bhai Sahib’s dhari he raised his hands in Ardas and thanked Waheguru. The police eventually became tired of this and shot Bhai Anokh Singh, covering the noise of the gunshot by starting a motorcycle. His body was then dumped in the River Beas, as his soul ascended to meet Waheguru.

One day Bhai Sahib was arrested by Vairoval Police in the Amritsar area. For many days Bhai Sahib was kept hanging upside down in the police station. Foot-long metal rods were heated up and hammered into his legs, from the heels upward. A pin was put through his private parts and an electricity connection was attached to it so that he could be shocked. Hot metal rods were also passed through his chest. But the Guru's Singh took the tortures calmly. All the torturers heard was "Vahiguru". No cries of pain, no screams.

After the torture, Bhai Sahib was left on the ground, unable to move. The time for Rehraas arrived. Bhai Sahib opened his eyelids but the sockets that held his eyes were hollow. His beautiful beard was soaked in blood. Those eyes which were once lost in deep meditation had been taken out by the dushts.

Bhai Sahib called out, "Sentry! Bhai Sahib jee, what time is it?" He felt around himself with his hands to find the guard.

"It's 7.15 Babio. What? What has happend to your eyes??"

The Sentry looked at Bhai Sahib's face and felt frightened.

"Oh, it must be time for Sodar then. Sodar tera kayhaa..." Bhai Anokh Singh began to recite Rehraas Sahib lying on the ground. Even though his body was shattered, Bhai Sahib recited the paath in a sweet voice. The Sentry too felt the vairaag.

After Sodar, Bhai Sahib, still lying on the ground began Ardaas. It was a daily part of his routine. "Ten Gurus, Punj Pyaaray, Chaar Sahibzaaday, The Guru's Jhanday and Boongay..." Bhai Sahib then began his personal ardaas: "Hay Akaal Purakh Suchay Paatshah Guru Nanak dev Gareeb Nivaaj Satguru, the day which rose in your bhaaNaa has passed in happiness, meditating on your naam. Suchay Paatshah, night has arrived, may it too pass while remembering your Naam and in your BhaaNaa....Satguru, May I be a Shaheed...Suchay Patshaah, save me from becoming a traitor...Satguru, may the Sikhi and kesh you have given me last with me till my final breaths...Such Paatshah, have mercy on all....Bolay So Nihaal...Sat Sree Akaal!!"

The Jaikara Bhai Sahib sounded echoed throughout the police station.

The Sentry ran to the station-head and surrendered his rifle and tabled his resignation.

"I can't do this job that forces people to kill saints...I can't..." He kept repeating himself.

The SSP cursed, "They are all magicians...another of our officers has left the service because of this paath!!"

And then another atrocity was committed. Bhai Sahib's tongue was cut off using a metal cutting saw. Streams of blood flowed from Bhai Sahib's mouth but the faithful Singh raised his hands in Ardaas and thanked Vahiguru.

In the end, the police became tired of all this and shot Bhai Sahib in the station. When the shot was fired, a motor cycle was started so that the gun could not be heard. Over night, Bhai Sahib's body was thrown into the river Beas.