Surinder Singh Sodhi

Sodhi was born in 1962 in village Kotli Bawa Dass, Hoshiarpur district in a Jatt Sikh family. He took Amrit and became a Khalsa early in his life. By 10, he had memorised the entire Nitnem. His raw name was Sodhi a shortened version of his name Surinder Singh. Sodhi also became a member of Harian Bela Nihang Dal where he learned Gatka, but would leave soon after and join Damdami Taksal where he would get full Santhiya of Guru Granth Sahib. == Clash with Nirankari ==

On 27 August 1981, Surinder Singh Sodhi would be involved in a clash with Nirankaris. A group of Nirankaris allegedly made disrespectful remarks about the Chola of Sodhi and some Nihangs. In response, Sodhi grabbed a rake and began beating the group, injuring 15 and leading to his arrest. The officer who had arrested Sodhi would be called by Bhindranwale, who demanded the immediate release of Sodhi. The arresting officer would comply and Sodhi would be released. == Joining Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale ==

The first time Sodhi met Bhindranwale after his release they are said to have hugged each other. Bhindranwale praised Sodhi for his work. He was valued by Bhindranwale for his expertise in weapons and was the only Sikh with Bhindranwale who could use an RPG. It is said that around this time Sodhi spent 3 months in simran not eating or sleeping. == Militancy ==

Sodhi was said to have never turned down a mission given by Bhindranwale. Sodhi was pulled over and arrested in Sonipat, Haryana. He was charged for smuggling weapons. Sodhi was soon bailed out by the family of the fellow militant arrested for 50,000 rupees. (Equivalent to 1 million rupees in 2023, or US$12,500 in 2023) On 28 September 1981, damage was done to the railway track between Nasrala and Sham Churasi railway station in Hoshiarpur. Sodhi was released after the Morcha began and joined the Morcha out of genuine conviction. Nirankari were expelled by the Akal Takht out of the Sikh fold and became a target of attacks. Looting Home Guards armoury On 4 April 1983, the Akali Dal launched Rasta Roko Morcha as part of Dharam Yudh Morcha. At Kup Kalan near Malerkotla, where Rasta Roko Morcha protesters were, security forces and paramilitary forces opened "indiscriminate and unprovoked" fire which resulted in the death of 24 or 26 protesters and the burning of shops and tractors. Around 1,000 protestors were jailed and around 500 protestors and police were also wounded. 10 days after Rasta Roko Morcha, a Home Guards armoury in Ferozepur was looted in revenge. It was looted by Surinder Singh Sodhi and his accomplices. Sodhi seized 28 .303 service rifles, 14 stenguns, and 360 rounds of ammunition. Killing Nirankari leader Kultara Singh On 21 July 1983, Surinder Singh Sodhi killed the Nirankari head of Hoshiarpur, Kultara Singh. Kultara was killed by Sodhi outside of a tailor shop. He was chased by police but managed to escape. A lyric from a famous dhadi ballad about this translates to, "3 Singhs of the Guru came like a horse; At the opportunity they came to Mukhtsar and brought freedom; A new flag has been flown by the motorcyclewale. (Literally those who ride motorcycles; referring to Kharkus) Sansi was put on the car of death by motorcyclewale; Sansi was put on the train of death by the motorcyclewale." Bank Robbery On 21 September 1983, Surinder Singh Sodhi and others looted 27,000 rupees (Equivalent to 450,000 rupees in 2023, or US$5,500 in 2023) from Punjab and Sind bank in Amritsar. Sodhi and the others first disguised themselves as police officers. They then made their way to Gurbachan. He also had tortured Kulwant Singh Nagoke and after killed him in an extrajudicial execution. He was also involved in other extrajudicial executions. He had been named by Jarnail Singh as an enemy of the Panth and someone who, "..drank Sikh blood". Jewellery store robbery On 26 November 1983, Surinder Singh Sodhi robbed 1,500,000 rupees (Equivalent to 25,000,000 rupees in 2023, or US$305,000 in 2023) from a jewellery shop in Karol Bagh, Delhi. along with Labh Singh killed former MLA Harbans Lal Khanna in his medical shop in Amritsar. Khanna was the BJP district president at the time. His bodyguard and 1 customer of his shop were also killed. Sodhi and Labh Singh also burned down a police jeep by Khanna's shop. Sodhi and Labh Singh had posed as police officers. Sodhi waited outside on a motorcycle as Labh Singh entered the shop. Labh Singh opened fire with a stengun killing Khann's bodyguard and others, all of whom were sitting. Khanna shouted frantically. Labh Singh said, "Dhoti, topi (hat), at Yamuna. Long live Khalistan." He then killed Khanna. Khanna had raised slogans translating to, "We are not going to let any second or third group exist, we are not going to let a turban remain on any head; the kacchera, the kara, the kirpan, send these to Pakistan". In February 1984 he led a mob that destroyed a replica of the Golden Temple at Amritsar railway station and put feces and lit cigarettes on a painting of Guru Ram Das which had been on display for many years. The riots left at least 7 dead. A famous lyric from a Kavishari song about this incident translates to, "Jago (Referring to Sikh revolution) made Harbans Lal Khanna spill red. Don’t go against the words of Singhs. Those who did have been "taught"(killed). Kara, kachera, will remain here; Your (Harbnas Lal Khanna) evening has been brought. Jago has arrived; From where did it come; From Bhindranwale Sant; The motorcyclewale have moved to forward". Chief Minister of Haryana Bhajan Lal Surinder Singh Sodhi was given the duty of killing Bhajan Lal the Chief Minister of Haryana by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Bhajan Lal had started the construction of SYL which was opposed by Sikh. Bhajan Lal as head of the Haryana government in November 1982 had Sikh indiscriminately stopped, searched, and humiliated who planned to hold a protest at the Delhi Asia Games. Once Sodhi was in range of shooting Bhajan Lal, but had been ordered to chop off Bhajan Lal's head by Bhindranwale. Because of his devotion to honour Bhindranwale's words Sodhi left Bhajan Lal. Bhindranwale would later claim that Sodhi would have killed Bhajan Lal if Sodhi lived 15 days more. == Death and aftermath ==

On 14 April 1984, Surinder Singh Sodhi was shot and killed while drinking milk in a shop in Amritsar by Surinder Singh Shinda and Baljit Kaur. Baljit Kaur had attempted to assassinate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on 13 April, but backed out. Baljit Kaur, would go to the Golden Temple after the killing and confessed to the murder. Baljit Kaur would be interrogated by Bhindranwale. She would admit to the other killer being her boyfriend Surinder Singh Shinda and to being paid 200,000 rupees (3.1 million rupees in 2023, or US$37,500 in 2023) by Gurcharan Singh, the general secretary of Akali Dal led by Harchand Singh Longowal, to do the killing. She also implicated others. Bhindranwale in a speech would say, "They (Akali Dal) killed our young men. They severed my right arm... I know what role that lion, that son of his mother played in seeking vengeance for the martyrs". With this Labh Singh and others made their way to punish the culprits. The first revenge attack was on Jasit Singh the owner of the tea shop where Sodhi was killed. He and a co-conspirator were shot dead the day after. Bachan Singh (alias Toti) was found dead with him being torched. He was a co-conspirator. Labh Singh and others killed Surinder Singh Shinda. They had stopped Shinda at a fake police checkpoint made by Labh Singh and others. He was chopped into 7 pieces for shooting Sodhi 7 times. Baljit Kaur was killed, reportedly shot dead. Malik Bhaita, the Akali Dal head of Amritsar, confessed to his role in arranging the taxi for Shinda's escape. He was momentarily forgiven by Bhindranwale, but while leaving the Golden Temple Complex Bhaita would be slashed with swords by Bhindranwale's followers. Bhaita attempted to flee to Longowal, but would be killed with a bullet. During Operation Blue Star Gurcharan Singh would be killed by Bhindranwale and his followers. == References ==