Harjinder Singh Jinda
Encyclopedia
Harjinder Singh Jinda was a member of a Sikh organization Khalistan Commando Force
and one of the two assassins of Arun Vaidya (the Chief of Indian army
at the time of Operation Bluestar and architect of Operation Bluestar). He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass, Lalit Maken
and Gen. Vaidya. He along with other members of Khalistan Commando Force
participated in Indian history's biggest bank robbery of Rs. 5.70 crore
($4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank
, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana to finance the campaign for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan
.
in the year of 1998) was a cousin of Harjinder Singh Jinda. He belonged to a farmer family.
He was born on April 4, 1962 in the village of Gadli, Jandiala in district Amritsar
and received his early education in his native village of Gadli in district Amritsar
. After completing his early education, he enrolled in Khalsa College, Amritsar
.
India today described Jinda as 5'7" tall with a mole on the right side of his neck and two wounds on his right leg
afterwards.
along with Ranjit Singh Gill gunned down Congress(I) Member of Parliament Lalit Maken
on July 31, 1985, when he was moving towards his car parked across the road from his house in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi. The three assailants continued firing even as Maken ran towards his house for cover. Maken's wife Geetanjali and a visitor, Balkishan, were also caught in the firing. The assailants escaped on their scooters. Lalit Maken was considered to be involved in the killings of innocent Sikhs during 1984 Anti-Sikh riots
. In a 31-page booklet titled 'Who Are The Guilty
', People's Union for Civil Liberties
(PUCL) listed 227 people who led the mobs, which killed up to 3,000 Sikhs over three days. Lalit Maken's name was third on the list. A press report has indicated that someone named Bakshish Singh was also involved along with Jinda in this assassination.
Ranjit Singh "Gill" was arrested by Interpol in New Jersey, USA on May 14, 1987, a federal magistrate approved his extradition on February 6, 1988 and he was deported back to India in February 2000 after lengthy legal cases and was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 24, 2003. Finally his life sentence was commuted on May 20, 2009.
after his retirement from the army. On August 10, 1986 General Arun Vaidya, the architect of Operation Bluestar was shot to death by Jinda and Sukha
while he was driving his car home from the market. According to the police, the assailants pulled up next to his car on motor scooters and fired eight or nine shots into the car. Vaidya reportedly died instantly of head and neck wounds. His wife, who was also in the car, was wounded by four bullets in her back and thighs. According to Indian intelligence sources, Vaidya had been the number four assassination target on lists by Sikh militants and he was one of several people killed in retaliation for Operation Blue Star. Following the assassination, the Khalistan Commando Force
issued a statement declaring that Vaidya had been killed in retaliation for the Operation Blue Star
.
and one other Sikh because of his involvement in 1984 Anti-Sikh riots
. Arjan Dass's name appeared in various affidavits submitted by innocent Sikh victims to Nanavati Commission
which was headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati
, retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India
. He was also identified among organisers of the carnage. Arjun Dass was a close friend of Prime Minister of India
Rajiv Gandhi.
, including its chief general Labh Singh
, participated in the biggest bank robbery of India
n history and robbed Rs. 5.70 crore
(equivalent to $4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank
, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana a part of this robbed money belonged to the Reserve Bank of India
, India's central bank. Per Chicago Sun Times, 12 to 15 Sikh Smilitants dressed as policemen and armed with submachine guns and rifles escaped with nearly $4.5 million in the biggest bank robbery in Indian history. Indian Police officials described it as 'a neat and clean operation' where no one was injured. As per Indian Express, current KCF
chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar was also involved in it.
It was documented as “Biggest Bank Robbery” under “Curiosities and wonders” in Limca Book of Records
. Other Khalistan Commando Force
members who participated with Jinda in this event were Mathra Singh, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Satnam Singh Bawa, Gurnam Singh Bundala Sukhdev Singh Sukha
, Daljit Singh Bittu, Gursharan Singh Gamma and Pritpal Singh etc. It enabled his organization Khalistan Commando Force
to buy sophisticated weapons like AK-47 Rifles In regards to this bank robbery, Los Angeles Times has mentioned that bank robberies have been a major means of financing the Sikh Smilitants campaign for a separate state of Khalistan.
got into an accident with a truck in Pimpri, Pune and was arrested. He was riding the same black motorcycle which was used at the time of assassination of General Vaidya. Jinda was arrested at Gurdwara Majnoo Daa Tilla, Delhi
in March, 1987. He was shot in the legs at the time of his arrest. During their court trial, despite admitting to the killing, they pled not-guilty, justifying their actions by saying that Vaidya was "guilty of a serious crime, the punishment for which could only be death". They were awarded death sentences at 2:05 pm on October 21, 1989. Sukha and Jinda also wrote a letter to president of India asking for "No-Clemency" prior to their hanging. They welcomed their death sentences with Sikh religious slogans of Jo Bole So Nihal
and their political slogans of Khalistan
Zindabad.
On October 9, 1992, early in the morning, Sukhdev Singh "Sukha" and Harjinder Singh "Jinda" were hanged until death in Pune Jail. The Independent World mentioned “While being led from their cell to the gallows set up in the Yerawada gaol yard, the two convicted killers shouted slogans for Sikh independence in the Punjab”.
Both of them were hanged at 4 am in Yerwada Jail Pune while extraordinary security was deployed at the jail and in the periphery of Pune to oppose any possible Sikh militant attack. Security was also tightened all over Northern India.
, Parkash Singh Badal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra
and 300 others were arrested in the statewide arrests. Some people were baton charged when they tried to enter this religious place. Approximately 300 Sikhs openly resisted the police clampdown and held the 30 minute memorial service inside the complex while chanting slogans hailing the assassins and in support of Sikh homeland Khalistan
. Jinda and Sukha’s fathers were presented with gold medals by Golden Temple priest. Police seize of the temple was lifted 3 hours after the memorial service
On October 9, 2000, representatives of all major Sikh bodies, including ruling Shiromani Akali Dal
, the SHSAD, the SGPC, the Damdami Taksal
, AISSF
and the Dal Khalsa
attended the eighth death anniversary of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha. To honour Jinda and Sukha, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Head of Akal Takht
(Supreme Sikh temporal seat), performed the ‘ardas’ (a Sikh religious rite). Both Sukha and Jinda were declared as “great martyrs’ of the Sikh religion during this event.
On October 9, 2002, per The Tribune, on Jinda's death anniversary, "Tributes were paid to the assassins of General Vaidya — Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha" and Jinda's mother was honoured by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, chief of Akal Takhat.
In October 2005, the anniversary of his death was celebrated in his native village of Gadli by various Sikh organization including Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Akal Federation and Sikh Students Federation etc. and his family was again honoured by Dal Khalsa in Fateh Garh Sahib in Punjab, India.
Dashmesh Durbar Sikh temple in Surrey, Canada recently organized special prayers for both Jinda and Sukha in Canada
On October 9, 2008, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
honoured kin of Jinda and Sukha
in the Golden Temple
complex, to mark the anniversaries of their death. SGPC
declared Jinda and Sukha
‘martyrs of Sikh community' and added that Jinda and Sukha
took revenge of Operation Bluestar.
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
and one of the two assassins of Arun Vaidya (the Chief of Indian army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
at the time of Operation Bluestar and architect of Operation Bluestar). He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass, Lalit Maken
Lalit Maken
Lalit Maken was a member of Parliament of India, a political leader of Indian National Congress and a labour union leader. Maken was the son-in-law of late President of India Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma....
and Gen. Vaidya. He along with other members of Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
participated in Indian history's biggest bank robbery of Rs. 5.70 crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
($4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank
Punjab National Bank
Punjab National Bank , was founded in 1894 and is currently the second largest state-owned commercial bank in India ahead of Bank of Baroda with about 5000 branches across 764 cities. It serves over 37 million customers. The bank has been ranked 248th biggest bank in the world by the Bankers...
, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana to finance the campaign for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan
Khalistan
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....
.
Early life
Harjinder Singh's mother's and father's names are Gurnam Kaur and Gulzar Singh. Jinda had two older brothers, Nirbhail Singh and Bhupinder Singh and one sister, Balvinder Kaur. Harinder Singh alias Mathra Singh and Jagjit Singh were nephews of Harjinder Singh Jinda. Sikh militant Surjit Singh Penta (who committed suicide by consuming cyanide during Operation Black ThunderOperation Black Thunder
Operation Black Thunder is the name given to two operations that took place in India in the late 1980s to flush out remaining Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple using 'Black Cat' commandos of the National Security Guards Like Operation Blue Star, these attacks were on Khalistani militants who...
in the year of 1998) was a cousin of Harjinder Singh Jinda. He belonged to a farmer family.
He was born on April 4, 1962 in the village of Gadli, Jandiala in district Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
and received his early education in his native village of Gadli in district Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. After completing his early education, he enrolled in Khalsa College, Amritsar
Khalsa College, Amritsar
Khalsa College is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, India. Founded in 1892, the sprawling campus is located about eight km outside of the city center on the Amritsar-Lahore highway , adjoining Guru Nanak Dev University campus, to...
.
India today described Jinda as 5'7" tall with a mole on the right side of his neck and two wounds on his right leg
Participation in the Khalistan movement
He was completing his BA part II when Operation Bluestar occurred. He left his studies and joined the Khalistan separatist movementKhalistan 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....
afterwards.
Assassination of Lalit Maken
Harjinder Singh "Jinda" and Sukhdev Singh SukhaSukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
along with Ranjit Singh Gill gunned down Congress(I) Member of Parliament Lalit Maken
Lalit Maken
Lalit Maken was a member of Parliament of India, a political leader of Indian National Congress and a labour union leader. Maken was the son-in-law of late President of India Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma....
on July 31, 1985, when he was moving towards his car parked across the road from his house in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi. The three assailants continued firing even as Maken ran towards his house for cover. Maken's wife Geetanjali and a visitor, Balkishan, were also caught in the firing. The assailants escaped on their scooters. Lalit Maken was considered to be involved in the killings of innocent Sikhs during 1984 Anti-Sikh riots
1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
. In a 31-page booklet titled 'Who Are The Guilty
Who Are The Guilty
Who are the guilty is a report published by two Delhi based human rights organizations PUDR and PUCL in November 1984 after conducting investigations into widespread murder, looting and rioting during 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.- External links :#http://www.sacw.net/aii/WhoaretheGuilty.html Who are the...
', People's Union for Civil Liberties
People's Union for Civil Liberties
People's Union for Civil Liberties is a human rights body formed in India in 1976 by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, as the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights .-The indian emergency:...
(PUCL) listed 227 people who led the mobs, which killed up to 3,000 Sikhs over three days. Lalit Maken's name was third on the list. A press report has indicated that someone named Bakshish Singh was also involved along with Jinda in this assassination.
Ranjit Singh "Gill" was arrested by Interpol in New Jersey, USA on May 14, 1987, a federal magistrate approved his extradition on February 6, 1988 and he was deported back to India in February 2000 after lengthy legal cases and was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 24, 2003. Finally his life sentence was commuted on May 20, 2009.
Assassination of General Vaidya
General Arun Vaidya was the Chief of the Indian Army who ordered the attack on the holiest of the Sikh shrines at Amritsar and elsewhere in Punjab during Operation Bluestar. He had moved to PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
after his retirement from the army. On August 10, 1986 General Arun Vaidya, the architect of Operation Bluestar was shot to death by Jinda and Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
while he was driving his car home from the market. According to the police, the assailants pulled up next to his car on motor scooters and fired eight or nine shots into the car. Vaidya reportedly died instantly of head and neck wounds. His wife, who was also in the car, was wounded by four bullets in her back and thighs. According to Indian intelligence sources, Vaidya had been the number four assassination target on lists by Sikh militants and he was one of several people killed in retaliation for Operation Blue Star. Following the assassination, the Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
issued a statement declaring that Vaidya had been killed in retaliation for the Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
.
Assassination of Arjan Dass
Congress (I) leader Arjun Dass was assassinated on Sept 5 1985 by Jinda, SukhaSukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
and one other Sikh because of his involvement in 1984 Anti-Sikh riots
1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
. Arjan Dass's name appeared in various affidavits submitted by innocent Sikh victims to Nanavati Commission
Nanavati commission
The Justice G.T. Nanavati commission was established by the Indian Government in 2000 to investigate the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.-Creation:The commission was appointed by the National Democratic Alliance government on 8 May 2000 to look into certain matters emanating from the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots....
which was headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati
G.T. Nanavati
Girish Thakorlal Nanavati is a retired judge from the Supreme Court of India. After his retirement he has headed two commissions inquiring into the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and the Godhra riots.-Early life:...
, retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
. He was also identified among organisers of the carnage. Arjun Dass was a close friend of Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
Rajiv Gandhi.
India's biggest bank robbery
On February 13, 1987, Mr. Jinda along with other members of Khalistan Commando ForceKhalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
, including its chief general Labh Singh
Labh Singh
Sukhdev Singh , best known as Labh Singh and also known as Sukha Sipahi and General Labh Singh, was a former Punjab police officer who took command of the Khalistan Commando Force after its first leader, Manbir Singh Chaheru, was arrested in 1986.He was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale...
, participated in the biggest bank robbery of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n history and robbed Rs. 5.70 crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
(equivalent to $4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank
Punjab National Bank
Punjab National Bank , was founded in 1894 and is currently the second largest state-owned commercial bank in India ahead of Bank of Baroda with about 5000 branches across 764 cities. It serves over 37 million customers. The bank has been ranked 248th biggest bank in the world by the Bankers...
, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana a part of this robbed money belonged to the Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India is the central banking institution of India and controls the monetary policy of the rupee as well as US$300.21 billion of currency reserves. The institution was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of...
, India's central bank. Per Chicago Sun Times, 12 to 15 Sikh Smilitants dressed as policemen and armed with submachine guns and rifles escaped with nearly $4.5 million in the biggest bank robbery in Indian history. Indian Police officials described it as 'a neat and clean operation' where no one was injured. As per Indian Express, current KCF
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar was also involved in it.
It was documented as “Biggest Bank Robbery” under “Curiosities and wonders” in Limca Book of Records
Limca Book of Records
Limca Book of Records is a record book of Indian origin. First published in 1990, when the Limca Brand was owned by Parle Group. The book continued to be published by Coca-Cola, when they bought the Limca Brand. The 20th edition of this book was released by Amitabh Bachchan in March 2009...
. Other Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
members who participated with Jinda in this event were Mathra Singh, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Satnam Singh Bawa, Gurnam Singh Bundala Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
, Daljit Singh Bittu, Gursharan Singh Gamma and Pritpal Singh etc. It enabled his organization Khalistan Commando Force
Khalistan Commando Force
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is a private paramilitary organization operating in the Indian state of Punjab. According to the US State Department, and the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division, the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India,...
to buy sophisticated weapons like AK-47 Rifles In regards to this bank robbery, Los Angeles Times has mentioned that bank robberies have been a major means of financing the Sikh Smilitants campaign for a separate state of Khalistan.
Arrest and death
On September 17, 1986, SukhaSukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
got into an accident with a truck in Pimpri, Pune and was arrested. He was riding the same black motorcycle which was used at the time of assassination of General Vaidya. Jinda was arrested at Gurdwara Majnoo Daa Tilla, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
in March, 1987. He was shot in the legs at the time of his arrest. During their court trial, despite admitting to the killing, they pled not-guilty, justifying their actions by saying that Vaidya was "guilty of a serious crime, the punishment for which could only be death". They were awarded death sentences at 2:05 pm on October 21, 1989. Sukha and Jinda also wrote a letter to president of India asking for "No-Clemency" prior to their hanging. They welcomed their death sentences with Sikh religious slogans of Jo Bole So Nihal
Jo Bole So Nihal
Bole So Nihal is part of the traditional greeting used by the followers of the Sikh religion and a call to action or duty.Bole So Nihal...Sat Sri Akal is the Sikh slogan or jaikara . It is divided in two parts or phrases...
and their political slogans of Khalistan
Khalistan
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....
Zindabad.
On October 9, 1992, early in the morning, Sukhdev Singh "Sukha" and Harjinder Singh "Jinda" were hanged until death in Pune Jail. The Independent World mentioned “While being led from their cell to the gallows set up in the Yerawada gaol yard, the two convicted killers shouted slogans for Sikh independence in the Punjab”.
Both of them were hanged at 4 am in Yerwada Jail Pune while extraordinary security was deployed at the jail and in the periphery of Pune to oppose any possible Sikh militant attack. Security was also tightened all over Northern India.
Public protests
The Independent World reported that “..their hanging sparked off protests by students and shop-keepers in the Sikh-dominated state of Punjab” and “Security forces were put on alert in New Delhi, Pune, the southern city where the two assassins were hanged, and throughout the Punjab.”.Memorial service and subsequent seizure of Golden Temple by the government
On their memorial service, hundreds of troops and police surrounded the Golden Temple. In the early morning hundreds of Sikhs were ordered to move out of the Golden Temple. Sikh leaders Simranjit Singh MannSimranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann is a politician from Punjab. He is president of a Sikh political party, Shiromani Akali Dal , that used to advocate Sikhs sedition from India and form a separate sikh nation, Khalistan...
, Parkash Singh Badal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra
Gurcharan Singh Tohra
Panth Rattan Shiri Gurcharan Singh Tohra , former president of SGPC , a Sikh body in charge of controlling Gurdwara . He died of a heart attack in New Delhi on April 1, 2004 at the age of 79...
and 300 others were arrested in the statewide arrests. Some people were baton charged when they tried to enter this religious place. Approximately 300 Sikhs openly resisted the police clampdown and held the 30 minute memorial service inside the complex while chanting slogans hailing the assassins and in support of Sikh homeland Khalistan
Khalistan
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....
. Jinda and Sukha’s fathers were presented with gold medals by Golden Temple priest. Police seize of the temple was lifted 3 hours after the memorial service
Honours/ anniversaries
In October 1999, his death anniversary was celebrated in his village Gadli, district Amritsar, where chief of Akal Takhat Amritsar, Giani Puran Singh declared Jinda a national martyr while justifying his action of killing general Vaidya. Some Akali leaders stayed away from this function.On October 9, 2000, representatives of all major Sikh bodies, including ruling Shiromani Akali Dal
Shiromani Akali Dal
The Shiromani Akali Dal , translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal...
, the SHSAD, the SGPC, the Damdami Taksal
Damdami Taksal
The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading , analysis and recitation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Gobind...
, AISSF
All India Sikh Students Federation
The Sikh Students Federation, formerly the All India Sikh Students Federation, is a Sikh students' union and political organisation in India...
and the Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa is a socio-religio-political organization of the Sikh nation, based in the city of Amritsar . The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a...
attended the eighth death anniversary of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha. To honour Jinda and Sukha, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Head of Akal Takht
Akal Takht
The Akal Takht of the Timeless One or Seat of God. It is one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs equivalent to any parliament of world sovereign country. Akal means The Timeless One - another term for God. Takht means 'seat' or 'throne' in Persian...
(Supreme Sikh temporal seat), performed the ‘ardas’ (a Sikh religious rite). Both Sukha and Jinda were declared as “great martyrs’ of the Sikh religion during this event.
On October 9, 2002, per The Tribune, on Jinda's death anniversary, "Tributes were paid to the assassins of General Vaidya — Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha" and Jinda's mother was honoured by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, chief of Akal Takhat.
In October 2005, the anniversary of his death was celebrated in his native village of Gadli by various Sikh organization including Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Akal Federation and Sikh Students Federation etc. and his family was again honoured by Dal Khalsa in Fateh Garh Sahib in Punjab, India.
Dashmesh Durbar Sikh temple in Surrey, Canada recently organized special prayers for both Jinda and Sukha in Canada
On October 9, 2008, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the upkeep of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in three states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SGPC also administers Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Gurdwaras in Delhi are the administered by Delhi Sikh...
honoured kin of Jinda and Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
in the Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
complex, to mark the anniversaries of their death. SGPC
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the upkeep of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in three states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SGPC also administers Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Gurdwaras in Delhi are the administered by Delhi Sikh...
declared Jinda and Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
‘martyrs of Sikh community' and added that Jinda and Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha
Sukhdev Singh Sukha was a member of the militant organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the assassins of Arun Vaidya, the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and also the architect of Operation Bluestar. He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass,...
took revenge of Operation Bluestar.