EMERGING: Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa (Haryana) Was Compelled To Jump From Water Tank by Police

LUDHIANA, Punjab—Last updated on March 21, 6:56 AM (Amritsar Time)

As per eyewitness reports, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa was compelled to jump from the water tank due to pressure by Punjab police. Sikh24 has learned from sources who were at the protest site that police wanted to foil the protest by Sikh activist Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa. Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa relatiliated in response to police action as he did not want to his third hunger protest to to end due to external pressure.

Shortly before jumping from the water tank, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa spoke with Bhai Harminder Singh (Delhi) and mentioned that he would not end the struggle until the following three commands were met –

1. Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s transfer to Punjab
2. Release of Sikh political prisoners as listed during the Amb Sahib Morcha
3. Arrest of culprits responsible for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab

March 20, 2018—Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, renowned for initiating struggle to seek release of Sikh political prisoners today passed away. As per our sources, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh today jumped off a water tank in protest of lack of Government action in releasing Sikh political prisoners.

Bhai Papalpreet Singh, a renowned Sikh activist who provided coverage of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s struggle at Amb Sahib and later at Lakhnaur Sahib told Sikh24 that Bhai Khalsa was re-initiated hunger protest to seek release of Sikh political prisoners. “Due to the fact that this was his third attempt to seek permanent release of Sikh detainees, there was lack of enthusiasm amongst Sikh masses to support his cause,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa who is also on indefinite hunger protest at DMC Hero Heart Hospital referred to Bhai Khalsa as a shaheed. He called upon the Punjab and Union Government to move swiftly and release political prisoners who have completed their sentences. A statement by Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa reads, “Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa is a true martyr of the Sikh Nation. He initiated this task so the entire world could know about slavery of the Sikhs in India.”

Bhai Gurbaksh Singh had reinitiated his protest at Thaska Ali, near Ismailabad block. He was taken to the Lok Naik Jai Prakash Civil Hospital where he was pronounced dead after he jumped from the overhead water tank.