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| BhaiGurdeep Singh Deepa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1970 Village Bulowal, Jalandhar, India |
| Died | 12 December 1992(1992-12-12) (aged 21–22) Garha, Punjab India |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Years active | 1984-1992 |
| Organization(s) | All India Sikh Student Federation Khalistan Commando Force |
| Movement | Khalistan Movement |
Gurdeep Singh Deepa Heran Wala, (c. 1970 – 12 December 1992) commonly known as just Gurdeep Singh Deepa, was a revolutionary and the Jalandhar area commander and deputy chief of Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar faction). By the time of his death, Gurdeep Singh Deepa was wanted in 217 killings and 37 robberies of vehicles.
Early life
Gurdeep Singh Deepa was born in around 1970 in the village Heran to Saini Sikh family. He had two brothers, Bhai Amritpal Singh and Bhai Jang Bahadar Singh. He also had one sister. Not much is known about Deepa's early life except that he went to high school.
Militancy
Beginning
Gurdeep Singh Deepa was deeply moved and hurt by Operation Blue Star. The Operation led to Deepa associating with militants. Deepa began to associate with militant factions of All India Sikh Student Federation and in accordance with them began to boycott the 1985 Punjab Legislative Assembly election.
Arrest
Soon after Deepa would be arrested after a man named Ram Ratan gave police a tip. Deepa was charged under Arms Acts Sections 25, 54, 59. He would spend 2 months in Jalandhar Jail before getting out on bail.
Killing Ram Ratan
As soon as Gurdeep Singh Deepa was out on bail he killed Ram Ratan while wearing a disguise.
Khalistan Commando Force
Gurdeep Singh Deepa joined Khalistan Commando Force in 1987 and rose the ranks. He would eventually become the area commander of Jalandhar and Deputy Chief of KCF.
Killing Dr. Gurdial Singh
In 1987 Gurdeep Singh Deep and other KCF members on motorcycles shot dead Communist Party of India (Marxist) member, and district president Dr. Gurdial Singh.
Killing Deepak Dhawan
On 19 May 1987, Gurdeep Singh Deepa and other KCF members under Labh Singh killed Deepak Dhawan who was a State Committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Dhawan was riding his scooter near Sanghe. KCF members approached him and told him to try and run. He tried to run, but they shot him as he tried.
Killing Pash
On 23 March 1988, Pash, whose real name was Avtar Singh Sandhu, was killed by Gurdeep Singh Deepa. Paash was a supporter of the "ultra leftist Naxalite movement". He would write in support of communism and was a vocal critic of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Killing Police Cats
On 11 September 1989, KCF member Gurdeep Singh Deepa and other members killed 3 "police cats". (Police cats were militants turned police who became police informants within the militants.) The 3 had aided in the arrest of 2 Sikh militants who would be killed in extrajudicial executions.
Killing Sohan Singh Dhesi
On 18 September 1989, Gurdeep Singh Deepa members assassinated Sohan Singh Dhesi. Dhesi was the general secretary of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha. He was also the State Secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India.
Killing Varinder Kumar Gagan
On 8 June 1991, Gurdeep Singh Deepa and other KCF members killed Communist Party Marxist candidate Varinder Kumar Gagan in Nakodar. He was killed with 2 of his gunmen and 1 party worker.
Killing Sarwan Singh Cheema
On 4 November 1991, Gurdeep Singh Deepa killed Sarwan Singh Cheema the secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a former MLA. He was gunned down along with security guards Santokh Singh, Ram Lubhaya, Raghubir Chand, Mohindar Singh and head constable Paramjit Singh of Punjab Police.
Attack on Murli Manohar Joshi's caravan
On 23 January 1992, Gurdeep Singh Deepa attacked BJP President Muril Manohar Joshi's caravan. The caravan was a part of the Ekta Yatra. Part of the caravan was Narendra Modi. The attack happened in Phagwara. As the caravan entered Phagwara the lead bus was attacked by Deepa and another with Ak-47's. They had disguised themselves as police officers. 3 were killed. They were the driver and 2 party workers. 40 others were injured.
Killing Mann Singh
On 15 March 1992, Gurdeep Singh Deepa killed SHO (Station House Officer) Mann Singh in Phillaur. Mann had been dubbed a butcher and had been a target of Sikh militants for much time.
Killing Balwant Singh Sarhal
On 26 April 1992, Gurdeep Singh Deepa and other KCF members killed Akali Dal MLA Balwant Singh Sarhal. Sarhal was killed along with 3 of his bodyguards.
Killing Darshan Singh Kaypee
On 12 October 1992, Gurdeep Singh Deepa killed Darshan Singh Kaypee and his bodyguard, Constable Ashok Kumar, in Jalandhar. According to police 2 KCF members on an Enfield motorcycle rode up beside Kaypee's car. From there they opened fire with an assault rifle. He was a 5 time MLA for the Congress Party (I), former Punjab state minister, and was the vice-president of the Punjab Congress Party.
Death
On 12 December 1992, Gurdeep Singh Deepa was surrounded by police when he was unarmed and staying at the home of a resident of Garha. The resident tipped the police off about Deepa's location. Deepa would kill himself with a Cyainde pill as he chose death over being arrested. Police would be accused of planting weapons on Deepa to stage a fake encounter.
The resident (Bhag Singh) would soon after send his son to California in hopes of protection, from Khalistan Commando Force. His son would soon be killed after KCF members made their journey to California.
By the time of his death, Gurdeep Singh Deepa was wanted in 217 killings and 37 robberies of vehicles.
References
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- "Former terrorist Sukhi acquitted in 23-year-old murder case". The Times of India. 6 November 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
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- Fineman, Mark (24 January 1992). "Separatists Kill 5 Hindu Marchers : India: The attack confirms government warnings that the national unity procession could cause bloodshed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- Gargan, Edward A. (27 January 1992). "Airlifted Hindu Nationalists Fly India's Flag in Kashmir". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- Gargan, Edward A. (24 January 1992). "5 Hindu Militants Slain on Kashmir Trip". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- "Sukhi not part of 1992 shootout: SSP".
- Ajit 17 March 1922
- Selections from National Press. Centre for South Asian Studies, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab. April 1992. p. 35.
- "Former militant acquitted in MLA murder case". The Times of India. 6 December 2007. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- "In 26 yrs, Punjab suffered most terror attacks, blasts". The Indian Express. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- "Humble, but encore unlikely". Hindustan Times. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- WSN. "Darshan Singh Kaypee, bodyguard shot dead". SIKH HERITAGE EDUCATION. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- Parkash, Ram (1984). Giani Zail Singh, Life and Work. Panchsheel Publishers. p. 121.
- "Ticket denied, Punjab Congress ex-chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee ready to rebel". The Times of India. 17 January 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
