Balwinder Singh Bhikhiwind, Shaurya Chakra awardee who fought multiple terrorist attacks shot down in Punjab

Balwinder Singh Sandhu (62) received five bullets as the assailants shot at him at the entrance of his house in Bhikhiwind village. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

It is still not clear whether the armed assailants, who arrived in a motorcycle, were Khalistani terrorists, reports said. Police have launched a massive manhunt to nab the killers, they added.

"Mr Singh was murdered today. Two people were involved in the attack, one of whom went up to his house and shot him. We have filed a case and it is being investigated," Senior Superintendent of Police Tarn Taran Dhruman Nimbale said, reported NDTV.

Singh fought and survived multiple terrorsit attacks through the 1980s and 90s, said reports, and added that the groups of terrorists had to bite dust at the hands of Balwinder Singh, his family, his brothers, their wives and children.

Singh and his family had survived a particularly deadly attack by at least 200 terrorists in September 1990. Together they faced multiple attacks, but everytime the terrorists had to retreat despite having sophisticated weapons.

In a rare honour for a civilian, Singh was awarded Shaurya Chakra in 1993 by the Ministry of Defence for his exemplary courage and bravery.

Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.

The Shaurya Chakra citation read: “Balwinder Singh Sandhu and his brother Ranjit Singh Sandhu are opposed to the activities of terrorists. They were in the hit list of terrorists. The terrorist have so far made 16 attempts to wipe out the Sandhu’s family within a span of about 11 months. The terrorists attacked them in groups of 10 to 200, but every time Sandhu brothers with the help of their brave wives Smt. Jagdish Kaur Sandhu and Balraj Kaur Sandhu have successfully failed the attempts of militants to kill them. The first attack on Sandhu family was made on 31st January 1990 and last one 28-12-1991, but the deadliest attack was made on 30th Sept 1990 on that day about 200 terrorists surrounded the Sandhu’s house from all sides and attacked them continuously for five hours with deadly weapons including rocket launchers. The attack was well planned and approach road of the house was blocked by spreading underground gun mines so that no help from police forces could reach them. Undaunted, Sandhu brothers and their wives fought the terrorist with pistols and sten-guns provided by the Government. The resistance shown by Sandhu brothers and their family members forced the terrorists to retreat. All these persons have displayed courage and bravery of a high order in facing the attack of the terrorists and failing their repeated murderous attempts.”

Singh was a die hard communist and against radicalisation of  the Sikh youth on the basis of religion, Khalistani movement and the terrorism linked to it. He trained his wife and children, and took on the terrorists along with his brothers and their families. from their home which was turned into a fort of sorts complete with bunkers in the roof.

The bravery shown by Singh earned him international acclaim. The international media reported his fight against terrorism and he once featured in a National Geographic documentary.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu was given police security because of the threat to his life from the Khalistani groups, who have continued to show their presence over the years.

However, last year, Singh's security was withdrawn on the recommendation of the Taran Taran police, said reports.

“He was a very brave man. As Deputy Commissioner Amritsar from 1992 to 1994, I had seen that he was the sole person in village Bhikhiwind who had taken arms, quite literally, against terrorists. He was very courageous and fearless,” said retired IAS officer KBS Sidhu said on Twitter.