The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 17 of 22
Baba
Kartar Singh Samparda/Chowk Mehta Samparda cont'd
One such enemy of theirs is the ‘Nang’
(imposter Nihang) named Ajit Singh Pula.
The tale of hatred between Ajit Singh Pula and
the ‘Dam Dami Taksal’ at Chowk Mehta
begins in late 1985/early 1986 when a preacher
from Chowk Mehta was on stage at an event during
which he began to insult the Nihang tradition
of 'Chatka'.
Chatka
A Nihang arries out 'Chatka' on a 'Chatanga'
(a specially selected goat for sacrifice)
Present in the congregation was Akali
Nihang Baba Kahn Singh, second in command
of Baba Bkala Tarna Dal, and Ajit Singh Pula’s
superior. On hearing the insults of the preacher,
Baba Kahn Singh reprimanded him but the preacher
continued airing his anti-Nihang views. Seeing
that his warning was not heeded, Baba Kahn Singh
killed the preacher on the stage. This action
prompted 2 militants from Chowk Mehta into dressing
up as Nihang Singhs and sneaking up to the elderly
Baba Kahn Singh during his visit to Sach
Khand Hazoor Sahib, and shooting him
in the back. On killing Baba Kahn Singh, the
Chowk Mehta militants in Punjab announced, that
no one may hold the religious services for Baba
Kahn Singh unless they wish to be killed.
Ajit Singh Pula
Ajit Singh (standing left) carried out a bloody
campaign against the
Khalistani militants during the 1980s, funded
by the Punjab Police and wealthy businessmen
Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh,
a one-time associate of Baba Kahn Singh heard
of this threat. In opposition to the Chowk Mehta
sentiments, Baba Santa Singh declared that whichever
Nihang Singh holds the religious services for
Baba Kahn Singh will be given the ‘Jathedari’
(leadership) of Baba Bkala Tarna Dal after the
passing of Akali Nihang Baba Bishan
Singh. One hard case and loose cannon
named Nihang Ajit Singh Pula, himself a protégé
of Baba Kahn Singh, stepped in to do religious
services for his murdered mentor.
96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh
Ji
The present head of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
and the Akal Takht, paying respects at Durbar
Sahib in 1974
The militants of Chowk Mehta, being the terrorists
they were made numerous attempts on the life
of Ajit Singh and then began to target his family
members – both women and children. It
is said that during one such encounter, a female
member of Ajit Singh’s family was killed.
Seeking vengeance, Ajit Singh approached the
head of the notorious Punjab Police, K.P.S.
Gill, who was engaged in hunting down
the terrorists within Punjab.
K.P.S. Gill
Scourge of the Khalistani militants who's strategy
managed to cripple militancy in Punjab
Ajit Singh offered his services to Gill and
for this he received firearms and other hardware.
Ajit Singh’s ranks began to swell up with
desperado Policemen who had themselves been
victims, or had lost family members to the Sikh
terrorists. It is said that Ajit Singh’s
gang became a haven for criminals, muggers,
and petty gangsters. In short, Ajit Singh’s
men were vigilante thugs who presented themselves
as Nihangs. They existed in a realm beyond the
law, and while being supported by the Punjab
Police carried out many secret and illegal operations
designed to wipe out Khalistani militancy/terrorism
in Punjab.