42 attacks, yet Comrade Balwinder held his ground

Balwinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Comrade Balwinder Bhikhiwind, displayed exceptional bravery in the fight against militancy during the peak of insurgency in Punjab. For his unmatched courage, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra by the President of India in 1993. His bravery remains etched in the memory of the people of the region.

At a time when fear gripped the state and very few dared to stand up against the militants, who followed neither logic nor appeals, Balwinder Singh rose as a lone figure of resistance. He faced 42 militant attacks, although only 12 cases were officially registered by the police. These were times when militants didn’t just strike at night but carried out brazen attacks in broad daylight.

Balwinder transformed his three-marla house into a fortified structure from the main gate to the rooftop, with bunkers on all three floors. A man of progressive thought, he joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) at the age of 20. His active participation soon caught the attention of Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the national leader of CPM, who later became the General Secretary of the party and mentored Balwinder during his political journey.

As militancy tightened its grip over Punjab, targeting leftist activists, village elders, minority communities, police personnel and others, Balwinder openly opposed the violence. This defiance placed him high on the militants’ hit list.

His wife, Jagdish Kaur, recalls that during those turbulent times, their entire family became a target. Despite being granted official security, the family mentally prepared themselves to face any threat. Being marginal farmers, they underwent arms training for self-defence. Jagdish Kaur shared that she, along with Balwinder’s brother and sister-in-law, took turns standing night guard for the family’s security.

In later years, Balwinder led a peaceful life, running a school from his residence in Bhikhiwind. Tragically, on October 16, 2020, he was assassinated by two masked gunmen on a motorcycle who shot him at the gate of his school. But his legacy lives on in the hearts of the people. Comrade Balwinder Singh taught a powerful lesson of sacrifice, courage and commitment to the community in the face of fear and terror.