Battle of Babeli
Part of Babbar Akali Movement
Date1 September 1923
Location
Babeli
Result British Victory
Belligerents
Babbar Akalis

United Kingdom British Empire

Commanders and leaders
Karam Singh †
Udai Singh †
Bishen Singh †
Mohinder Singh †		 Mr. Smith
Strength
4[1] 2,200[1]
Casualties and losses
4 Heavy

The Battle of Babeli was fought on 1 September 1923 between four Babbar Akalis and the British.

Background

On the night of 31 August 1923, a group of 18 Babbar Akalis in Babeli village took shelter in the house of their associate Shiv Singh Chahal.[1] Anup Singh, one of the Babbars, betrayed the Babbars; he told the British police to destroy all of the party's ammunition with the exception of the gun Karam Singh carried with him.[2] A contingent of 2,200 British soldiers and policemen under the command of Mr. Smith encircled the village next morning.[3]

Battle

The four Babbars were fighting near Gurudwara Chaunta Sahib.[4] Mr Smith challenged them that he will have them arrested alive before 12 O'Clock. The Babbars refused to surrender and replied "What good was taking you who have brought a posse of 2000 soldiers just to arrest four men. We will not be caught by you alive".[3][5] Udai Singh and Mohinder Singh were killed by gunshots while Bishen Singh managed to crawl towards the Gurudwara in wounded state but eventually died due to the loss of blood.[3][1] The 2,200 soldiers and police officers all attacked Karam Singh who was killed.[6] The British had suffered heavy casualties by just 4 Sikhs.

Aftermath

Immediately after the killings, the bodies of the four Babbars were brought under a huge tree in the village and a post mortem was conducted on the site.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tribune India (22 May 2017). "Battle of Babeli".
  2. ↑ Mohinder Singh (1978). The Akali Movement. Macmillan. p. 122. ISBN 9780333902578.
  3. 1 2 3 Sikh Missionary College. Babbar Akali Movement. pp. 26–27.
  4. ↑ Bakhshish Singh Nijjar (1987). History of the Babar Akalis. Abs Publications. p. 193. ISBN 9788170720102.
  5. ↑ Khushwant Singh (1966). A History Of The Sikhs, Vol. 2: 1839–1964. Princeton University Press. p. 205.
  6. ↑ Harbans Singh (1992). The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism – Volume II E-L. pp. 434–435. ISBN 9788173802041.

See also


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