Gurbachan Singh

Baba Gurbachan Singh was the leader of the Sant Nirankari sect [http://www.nirankari.com/history/hist4.htm Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji ] , considered to be heterodox by the mainstream Sikh [http://www.geocities.com/pritpal_bindra/s-022.html Nirankaris and Sant (Neo-)Nirankaris] . He was declared Satguru by his predecessor Baba Avtar Singh in 1962.

He should not be confused with Gurbachan Singh Manochahal [http://forums.waheguroo.com/lofiversion/index.php/t10033.html Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (different person)]

Events of 1978-1980

In 1978, the Nirankari mission [http://www.nirankari.com/montreal/articles.html Sant Nirankari Mission] from Delhi and other parts of the Indian sub-continent a congregation at Amritsar.

A few Sikhs, of Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal, marched from the Darbar Sahib to protest against this Nirankari congregation. In the resulting violence, 13 individuals including Jatha leader Bhai Fauja Singh were killed. Sixty four followers of the Nirankari mission were arrested [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood4.htm Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood] .

On April 13, 1978 they were all acquitted. Mr. Gupta, the session-Judge of Karnal, stated in his judgement "The case of the prosecution was intrinsically wrong. It was all frame-up and after thought."

On 25 September, 1978, Satguru baba Gurbachan Singh ji arrived in Kanpur. A group of protesters arrived at the Nirankari Bhawan with a motive to attack. [http://allaboutsikhs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=829 Kanpur Massacre 1978 ] .

On 28 September, 1978 the Punjab Government banned the entry of the Nirankari Chief in Punjab for six months. But the Supreme Court ordered the ban to be lifted.

On October 6, 1978, a Hukumnama from Sri Akal Takht Sahib by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib was issued, calling upon sikhs to socially boycott the Nirankaris.

In 1980, a Ranjit Singh, a member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha managed to obtain employment at the Nirankari headquarters in Delhi as a carpenter. On the evening of April 24, 1980, he waited with an automatic rifle in a room of the guest house. Ranjit Singh shot Satguru Baba Gurbachan Singh ji through a window when he returned from a public function at about 11pm. Ranjit Singh managed to escape.

Aftermath

The FIR named twenty persons for the murder, including several known associates of Bhindranwale, who was also charged with conspiracy to murder [http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_060604a.html Weigh him in gold] .

Ranjit Singh surrendered in 1983, and was in jail for 13 years. In 1990, while still in Tihar Jail, he was named the Akal Takht Jathedar [http://202.54.124.135/news/oct/21akali.htm Gujral assistance sought to bail out Akal Takht jathedar ] , and took over the post when he was released in 1996.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Ranjit Singh said about the murder: "I have no regrets. I did it for the Panth (community). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070311010926/http://www.media-watch.org/articles/0299/307.html Fundamentalism comes easy to Bhai Ranjit Singh] "

In 1997, the Delhi High Court upheld his conviction and cancelled bail. Ranjit refused to surrender. The government quickly ordered a remission of the remaining part of his sentence to avoid a confrontation [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1423/14231220.htm The commuting of the life sentence on Ranjit Singh, Frontline, Vol. 14 :: No. 23 :: Nov. 15 - 28, 19] .

uccessor

Baba Gurbachan Singh is succeeded by Baba Hardev Singh Ji.

References