Part of a series on |
Sikhism |
---|
The Khalistan Liberation Force is an armed militia, which sought to create an independent, Sikh-majority homeland within Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s. Its aim was the formation of Khalistan (Land of the Pure), encompassing the state of Punjab, and adjoining districts in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The KLF, along with the Babbar Khalsa, the Khalistan Commando Force and the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan made up the four largest and most prominent armed Sikh groups throughout the period of militancy in Punjab.
The KLF was founded by Aroor Singh and Sukhvinder Singh Babbar in 1986. His death led to the ascension to power of Avtar Singh Brahma, Born in 1951, Brahma became an amritdhari at the tender age of 15, having witnessed a gatka demonstration at his village. The attack on holy Sri Darbar Sahib by the Indian Army, under the orders incidentally of a Sikh, polarised the opinions and mindsets of many Sikhs. Brahma was no exception and he formulated a plan to strike back at the heart of the enemy: his first step, the inception of the Khalistan Liberation Force.
Throughout the years of the freedom struggle, the KLF played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Sikh homeland. This advancement of Sikh rights however, took a massive setback, when Brahma was cornered by Punjab Police on the Punjab-Rajasthan border. Avtar Singh Brahma was killed on 21st May 1988 and became a martyr in the eyes of some of his followers.
Following the slaying of Shaheed Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala, leadership of the KLF passed to Shaheed Kuldip Singh Keepa Shekhupura. His leadership saw the decline of the Khalistan Liberation Force, with the Punjab Police, the CRPF, the Border Security Force and the large contingent of the Indian Army based in Punjab all using excessive force in dealing with the freedoms struggle. The martyrdom of Shaheed Kuldip Singh Keepa Shekhupura, led to the rise of Shaheed Navneet Singh Khadian.
Like his predecessor, his reign as Chief of the KLF was short. Despite holding his own and being instrumental in many of the KLF’s successes, the overall sapping of the Sikh freedom struggle was taking its toll. Bhai Sahib attained was killed on the night of the 25th February 1994. He was aged just 24.
The Khalistan Liberation Force at the present time is a shell of its former self. The days of Avtar Singh Brahma and Gurjant Singh Budhsinghwala are long gone.
Recent Events
A Khalistan Liberation Force member named Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar was captured by the Punjab Police. [1]