Khalistan Commando Force
| Khalistan Commando Force | |
|---|---|
| Leader(s) |
Manbir Singh Chaheru (1987) Labh Singh † (1987–1988) Kanwaljit Singh Sultanwind (1988–1989) Paramjit Singh Panjwar |
| Dates of operation | 1987–1993 |
| Motives | The creation of a Sikh independent state of Khalistan in Punjab, as well as some districts of neighbouring states of India where all Sikhs can live without fear or any kind of discrimination and they will get their proper rights. |
| Active region(s) | India |
| Ideology | Protection of Sikh rights from Pakistan |
| Status |
 Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act designated as terrorist organisation by the Government of India
|
The Khalistan Commando Force or KCF is an armed Sikh organisation 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 many assassinations in India, including the 1995 assassination of Chief Minister Beant Singh.
The KCF is a controversial organisation. Its conception was directly the result of the activities in 1984 and the military action undertaken by the Indian armed forces culminating in the shelling of the Golden Temple. As per the Indian government, the KCF is classified as a terrorist organisation, However they are not globally declared as a terrorist organization. Most notably, The KCF is not designated as a terrorist organisation by United States Department of State.
Khalistan Commando forces members claim to be freedom fighters and have support among a section of Sikh diaspora.
The Khalistan Commando Force was founded by Manbir Singh Chaheru in 1986.
On 8 August 1986, Punjab Police arrested Manbir Singh Chaheru ("Hari Singh"), and he was eventually killed or disappeared while in police custody. After Chaheru was arrested, former police officer Sukhdev Singh, also known as Sukha Sipahi, took command of the KCF. Sukhdev Singh changed his name to Labh Singh and assumed the title of "General".
After his death the KCF was headed by Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind On 18 October 1989, Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind, and another two KCF members were arrested by police near Jalandhar. While one member managed to escape, Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind, then 23 years old, swallowed a cyanide capsule to avoid giving information about the group.
Police killed Labh Singh on 12 July 1988. His loss damaged the organisation. After his death, the Khalistan Commando Force split into factions including those led by Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Gurjant Singh Rajasthani.
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