Toofan Singh: Difference between revisions

'''Jugraj Singh''', better known as '''Toofan Singh''', was a militant member of the [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] who was born in 1971 in [[Sri Hargobindpur]], [[Punjab, India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/censor-declines-to-clear-toofan-singh/story-TAcCN6YBW685nBVCxZSnyL.html|title=Censor declines to clear 'Toofan Singh'|date=23 July 2016|website=www.hindustantimes.com}}</ref><ref>Indian Defence Review, p. 7, Lancer International, 1990</ref><ref>Religion, Identity, and Nationhood: The Sikh Militant Movement, p. 228, Paramjit S. Judge, Rawat Publications, 2005</ref> According to police records, he was allegedly involved in 150 killings. He was killed in an encounter on April 8, 1990.<ref>Violence and Terrorism in South Asia: Chronology and Profiles, 1971-2004, Moonis Ahmar, Bureau of Composition, Compilation & Translation Press, University of Karachi, 2005, p.164</ref>

Born in 1971 as Jugraj Singh in Cheema village of Punjab. He had 5 sisters and was the only son of his parents. In 1984, he was emotionally affected by the news of [[Operation Blue Star]]. He begin to believe that he has to do something about the alleged atrocities against Sikhs. In his younger days, he spent some days in the Nabha Jail. In the jail, he met with Manbir Singh Chaheru and Baldev Singh. Baldev Singh told Gujraj that he should avoid getting into these fights since he is the only son of his family, however, Gujraj would not change his path.<ref name="aajtak"/>

In 1987, he came into contact with Avtar Singh Brahma the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force and he would fight under him. Toofan Singh's name first appeared in the complaint registered to Punjab Armed Police Headquarters concerning the murder of police officer Govindram as the major prepatrator. On one hand Singh had support from Sikh society, and on other hand police forces would continue trailing him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/prasoon-joshi-censor-board-ban-panjabi-film-toofan-singh-full-story-tmov-1-948484.html | title=कौन था तूफान सिंह, जिस पर बनी पंजाबी फिल्म को सेंसर ने किया बैन | date=24 August 2017 }}</ref>

 

He was noted to have provided protection to the villagers from attacks and extortion by criminal gangs, terrorist groups and the police.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1990|title=Caught in a Trap|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=25|issue=24/25|pages=1292–1293|issn=0012-9976|jstor=4396390}}</ref>

Singh was considered as a martyr,<ref>{{cite book|title=Ethnic Rural And Gender Issues In Contemporary North-West|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRjcY4k6IroC&pg=PA78|page=78|publisher=Anamika Pub & Distributors|year=2005| isbn=9788179750209 }}</ref> and poets sang in praise of his bravery.<ref>{{cite book|title=Religion, Identity, and Nationhood: The Sikh Militant Movement|author=Paramjit S. Judge|publisher=Rawat Publications|page=228}}</ref>