Balwinder Singh Sandhu (62), a Sikh man who is known for his legendary battles against the Khalistani militants has been shot dead by two unidentified men early on Friday at native village Bhikhiwind of district Tarn Taran, Punjab.
Notably, during the 1980s and early 90s, Balwinder Singh had created a family army to nab terrorists in the Tarn Taran district which was worst-affected by terrorism then.
Many militants attacked him multiple times but he managed to take vengeance on those heavily armed militants. Balwinder Singh was the person who has inspired people across the state to defend themselves against the torment when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab.
However, the police is probing the case and yet could not identify the armed assailants who came by their motorbike. It is yet to be ascertained whether they were linked to Khalistani groups.
Reportedly on early Friday, two men came on a motorcycle to his village and waited for him outside the school Balwinder Singh had set up. The moment he arrived and opened the gate, the assailants shot five bullets into him. Right after shooting him, they fled away.
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Meanwhile, at the spot of the incident, fellow villagers came and took Balwinder Singh to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Notably, till 2019 Balwinder Singh used to have police security as some still-active Khalistani groups posed threat to his life. But in 2019, on the recommendations of the Tarn Taran police, the security was withdrawn.
“He was a very brave man. As Deputy Commissioner Amritsar from 1992 to 1994, I had seen that he was the sole person in village Bhikhiwind who had taken arms, quite literally, against terrorists. He was very courageous and fearless,” an official said.