Baljit Singh

Baljit Singh was 9 years old at the time of June 1984. He was attending a wedding with his family when the attack was launched on Harmandir Sahib. He has vague memory of leaving the wedding early and hurrying home. “When we reached home, sevadars were wrapping up chhabeel [sweet water served in June to commemorate martydom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji]. Everyone was talking about that Darbar Sahib being surrounded [by the Indian Army] and no one knew what could happen,” Baljit Singh tells 1984 Living History Project.

“Military troops were not allowing anyone to leave their houses, or even go to their farms. Our schools were closed. This continued for almost 2 months and military carried out raids throughout the village,” says Baljit Singh. He also recounts people from his village and surround areas who were killed during the attack, including Baba Mohar Singh, a close acquaintance of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.