Gurdev Singh Debu
Encyclopedia
Gurdev Singh Debu was a former president of area of Kartarpur of AISSF
who joined the terrorist organization Khalistan Commando Force
as an area commander under the leadership of Manbir Singh Chaheru after Operation Blue Star
.
Dheerpur, Jalandhar
. His parents were Mrs Gian Kaur and father Mr. Gurbachan Singh Sekhon. He belonged to a farmer family.
Gurdev Singh completed his primary education in his native village Dheerpur and attended high school in nearby village Dialpur. After this, he began to work on motors and became known as an expert.
He was married to Bibi Balvinder Kaur. He had one daughter and one son from this marriage.
after “April 13, 1978 Nirankari confrontation” when thirteen Sikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha
were murdered. He was known to be a very close associate of Bhai Amrik Singh
. He participated in a peaceful agitation Dharam Yudh Morcha, originally launched in August 1982 by Harcharan Singh Longowal
. He also attended a Sikh Camp (December 26 to 31, 1983) to get a certification in Sikh religious education.
The 1984 Indian army attack on Golden Temple
, famously known as Operation Blue Star
changed his future life. His initial response was his participation in attacking government properties in the countryside. He joined Mr. Manbir Singh Chaheru
, Mr. Mathra Singh and Mr. Tarsem Singh Kuhaar and their other companions in establishing original Khalistan Commando Force
. He was made one of the area commanders of this organization. He participated in several battles with Indian Government forces afterwards.
was able to arrest him after making him unconscious with sedative laced milk. He was ruthlessly tortured to gather information about KCF
, He was first beaten, and his bones were broken and twisted. Next, his legs were cut open and hot chillies were thrust in. Mr Singh’s body was then pierced by red hot iron rods. The police went so frustrated with his silence that they cut out one of his eyes at this stage. On Friday July 3, 1987, to extract at least some secret information, Punjab police
put him in a tub of boiling water where he was boiled to death and claimed that he was killed in a police encounter.
His mutilated body was handed over to local villagers when they surrounded the police station with their tractors, trolleys and buses and demanded they be given the body to cremate.
religious fair, called "Jor-Mela" is held on his matyrdom anniversary on every 3 July
All India Sikh Students Federation
The Sikh Students Federation, formerly the All India Sikh Students Federation, is a Sikh students' union and political organisation in India...
who joined the terrorist organization Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
as an area commander under the leadership of Manbir Singh Chaheru after Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
.
Early life
Gurdev Singh Debu was born on July 15, 1961 in villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
Dheerpur, Jalandhar
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
. His parents were Mrs Gian Kaur and father Mr. Gurbachan Singh Sekhon. He belonged to a farmer family.
Gurdev Singh completed his primary education in his native village Dheerpur and attended high school in nearby village Dialpur. After this, he began to work on motors and became known as an expert.
He was married to Bibi Balvinder Kaur. He had one daughter and one son from this marriage.
Radicalization
He started working with Jarnail Singh BhindranwaleJarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the leader of the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh religious group based in India, who supported implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. In 1981, Bhindranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of Jagat Narain, the proprietor of the Hind...
after “April 13, 1978 Nirankari confrontation” when thirteen Sikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha
Akhand Kirtani Jatha
The Akhand Kirtani Jatha is a jatha of Sikhs....
were murdered. He was known to be a very close associate of Bhai Amrik Singh
Bhai Amrik Singh
Bhai Amrik Singh was the President of the Sikh Students Federation after being elected into the position on July 2, 1977 and remained president until his death on June 6, 1984. He had passed his Masters in Punjabi from Khalsa College in Amritsar. After this he began research work on his Ph.D...
. He participated in a peaceful agitation Dharam Yudh Morcha, originally launched in August 1982 by Harcharan Singh Longowal
Harcharan Singh Longowal
Sant Harchand Singh Longowal was the President of the Akali Dal during the Punjab insurgency of the 1980s.-Early years:...
. He also attended a Sikh Camp (December 26 to 31, 1983) to get a certification in Sikh religious education.
The 1984 Indian army attack on Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
, famously known as Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
changed his future life. His initial response was his participation in attacking government properties in the countryside. He joined Mr. Manbir Singh Chaheru
Manbir Singh Chaheru
Manbir Singh Chaheru was a founder and first leader of the Khalistan Commando Force.-Early life:...
, Mr. Mathra Singh and Mr. Tarsem Singh Kuhaar and their other companions in establishing original Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
. He was made one of the area commanders of this organization. He participated in several battles with Indian Government forces afterwards.
Arrest, Torture and Murder
In the month of June 1987, in an under-cover operation, the Punjab PolicePunjab Police
Punjab Police may refer to:* Punjab Police , which operates in the Indian state of Punjab* Punjab Police , which operates in the Pakistani province of Punjab...
was able to arrest him after making him unconscious with sedative laced milk. He was ruthlessly tortured to gather information about KCF
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
, He was first beaten, and his bones were broken and twisted. Next, his legs were cut open and hot chillies were thrust in. Mr Singh’s body was then pierced by red hot iron rods. The police went so frustrated with his silence that they cut out one of his eyes at this stage. On Friday July 3, 1987, to extract at least some secret information, Punjab police
Punjab police
The Punjab Police is responsible for policing in the state of Punjab, India. Its present Director General is a J&K cadre IPS officer Mr. PS Gill...
put him in a tub of boiling water where he was boiled to death and claimed that he was killed in a police encounter.
His mutilated body was handed over to local villagers when they surrounded the police station with their tractors, trolleys and buses and demanded they be given the body to cremate.
Aftermath
It has been reported that his entire family was illegally arrested and interrogated afterwards.Monument
A memorial structure in his memory exists in the form of Sikh Religious Flag called “Nishan Sahib” at the entrance to his village, i.e. Dheerpur on the Hamira side. A big SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
religious fair, called "Jor-Mela" is held on his matyrdom anniversary on every 3 July