Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan
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| Bhindranwala Tiger Force Of Khalistan | |
| Active region(s) | India |
|---|---|
| Ideology | Khalistan |
| Status | Inctive |
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 Jathebandi 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.[1] The BTF was listed in 1995 as one of the 4 "major militant groups" in the Khalistan movement.[2]
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[edit] Bhinderanwala Tiger Force
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The two main factions in Bhindranwala Tigers Force were one led by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and one led by Sukhwinder Singh Sangha.
The BTF was an illegal Sikh militant group fighting for an independent Sikh homeland (AI Aug. 1991, 172; AFP 25 Nov. 1993; Documentation-Réfugiés 23 Nov.-6 Dec. 1993, 8). 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 (AFP 25 Nov. 1993; India Today 31 Mar. 1993, 56).
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 Dec. 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 Dec. 1994). The professor further indicated that "relations" of suspected members were targeted by police and paramiliatry 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.).
Facts on File reported on 16 September 1993 that 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley (November 1, 1996) (in English). Fighting for Faith and Nation. Series in Contemporary Ethnography. Page 159 and others: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 328. ISBN 978-0812215922. http://books.google.com/books?id=8QufTc6fAocC&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved on 30 May 2009.
- ^ Martha Crenshaw, ed (January 1, 1995) (in English). Terrorism in Context. page 394 and others: Pennsylvania State University Press. pp. 656. ISBN 978-0271010151. http://books.google.com/books?id=9nFyZaZGthgC&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved on 30 May 2009.
