Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan
Encyclopedia
The Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan, also known variously as Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan (BTFK) or Bhindranwale Tiger Force (BTF), was a militant group, and was part of the Khalistan movement
to create a Sikh
homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle.
This organisation appears to have been formed in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. After the founder's death, the BTF (or BTFK) seems to have disbanded or integrated into other organizations.
The BTF was listed in 1995 as one of the 4 "major militant groups" in the Khalistan movement.
The BTF was a Sikh militant group fighting for an independent Sikh homeland.
Based in the state of Punjab
, India, the BTF was described as one of the major Sikh militant groups and reportedly the strongest militant group in the Amritsar-Tarn Taran area.
According to a professor in Anthropology
at University of Maine
in Orono
with expertise on Sikh militant groups in Punjab, the BTF was founded in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochal, who was also head of the original Panthic Committee (30 December 1994).
Manochal broke away from the original Panthic Committee to continue his independent command of the BTF after his leadership of the Panthic was challenged in 1988 (ibid.).
Manochal also maintained his own Panthic Committee for a while but was killed in 1991 or 1992 (ibid.).
The professor also indicated that membership of the BTF numbered in the hundreds at one point, and the BTF was considered among the most dangerous of the guerilla forces (30 December 1994).
The professor further indicated that "relations" of suspected members were targeted by police and paramilitary personnel and much of the original force had been decimated (ibid.).
According to the professor, there were probably members of the BTF scattered all over, but no one knows how many are left or whether there is a clear leader at this point (ibid.).
The professor was unable to comment on the treatment of members of the BTF by the authorities upon their return to India, but noted that since the BTF has been a major target of counter-terrorism efforts, she would expect the reception of any known member to be "drastic" (ibid.).
In the year 1991, Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan along with Khalistan Liberation Force
and Dr. Sohan Singh (Head of Panthic Committee) etc participated in the secret peace negotiations with India in the city of Ludhiana. These meetings were initiated by Union Minister of State for Home Subodh Kant Sahay
on the orders of the then Prime Minister of India]] Chandra Shekhar. It is said that this peace effort was sabotaged by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence. Former Indian Intelligence Bureau
Joint Director, Maloy Krishna Dhar stated in a press report published by The Hindu, that “Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her ISI advisers were determined not to let peace succeed. Pakistan’s covert war in Jammu and Kashmir had exploded in 1990, and its establishment understood that the Punjab conflict tied down our troops, and threatened our logistical lines into Jammu and Kashmir.”
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was killed by the police on 1 March 1993
According to 30 March 1993 UPI report, Balwinder Singh was appointed as BTF chief after Manochahal's death.
Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan was found to be active in state of Punjab in the year of 1997.
Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kuki was a Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan member.
India arrested some of the Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan members in the year of 1999 as well.
Khalistan movement
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
to create a Sikh
Sikh
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"...
homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle.
This organisation appears to have been formed in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. After the founder's death, the BTF (or BTFK) seems to have disbanded or integrated into other organizations.
The BTF was listed in 1995 as one of the 4 "major militant groups" in the Khalistan movement.
History
Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan had two main factions, one led by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and the other faction led by Sukhwinder Singh Sangha.The BTF was a Sikh militant group fighting for an independent Sikh homeland.
Based in the state of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India, the BTF was described as one of the major Sikh militant groups and reportedly the strongest militant group in the Amritsar-Tarn Taran area.
According to a professor in Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
with expertise on Sikh militant groups in Punjab, the BTF was founded in 1984 by Gurbachan Singh Manochal, who was also head of the original Panthic Committee (30 December 1994).
Manochal broke away from the original Panthic Committee to continue his independent command of the BTF after his leadership of the Panthic was challenged in 1988 (ibid.).
Manochal also maintained his own Panthic Committee for a while but was killed in 1991 or 1992 (ibid.).
The professor also indicated that membership of the BTF numbered in the hundreds at one point, and the BTF was considered among the most dangerous of the guerilla forces (30 December 1994).
The professor further indicated that "relations" of suspected members were targeted by police and paramilitary personnel and much of the original force had been decimated (ibid.).
According to the professor, there were probably members of the BTF scattered all over, but no one knows how many are left or whether there is a clear leader at this point (ibid.).
The professor was unable to comment on the treatment of members of the BTF by the authorities upon their return to India, but noted that since the BTF has been a major target of counter-terrorism efforts, she would expect the reception of any known member to be "drastic" (ibid.).
In the year 1991, Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan along with Khalistan Liberation Force
Khalistan Liberation Force
The Khalistan Liberation Force or KLF is a militant group, and is part of the Khalistan movement to create a Sikh homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle...
and Dr. Sohan Singh (Head of Panthic Committee) etc participated in the secret peace negotiations with India in the city of Ludhiana. These meetings were initiated by Union Minister of State for Home Subodh Kant Sahay
Subodh Kant Sahay
Subodh Kant Sahay is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Ranchi constituency of Jharkhand, and is a member of the Indian National Congress political party. He is the Cabinet Minister for Tourism. He was the Minister of State for Home in V P Singh government when Mufti Mohd...
on the orders of the then Prime Minister of India]] Chandra Shekhar. It is said that this peace effort was sabotaged by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence. Former Indian Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau was the main internal intelligence agency of British India. It can also refer to:* Intelligence Bureau , the domestic intelligence organization of India...
Joint Director, Maloy Krishna Dhar stated in a press report published by The Hindu, that “Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her ISI advisers were determined not to let peace succeed. Pakistan’s covert war in Jammu and Kashmir had exploded in 1990, and its establishment understood that the Punjab conflict tied down our troops, and threatened our logistical lines into Jammu and Kashmir.”
Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was killed by the police on 1 March 1993
According to 30 March 1993 UPI report, Balwinder Singh was appointed as BTF chief after Manochahal's death.
Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan was found to be active in state of Punjab in the year of 1997.
Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kuki was a Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan member.
India arrested some of the Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan members in the year of 1999 as well.