Before 1947, Muzaffarabad district of Kashmir (now under control of Pakistan) region had a good presence of Kashmiri Pandits, who became Sikhs during and even after Gurus’ era. ‘Dera Gufa’ (ਡੇਰਾ ਗੁਫ਼ਾ) was a famous Sikh religious center, which was very popular in and around Muzaffarabad. The ‘Dera Gufa’ was situated on a bank of river Krishna Ganga. It was close to border of Kashmir and Pakistan.

On October 22, 1947, when the recitation of ‘Sri Sukhmani Sahib’, a holy composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was about to be completed in early morning, a bullet fired from a gun struck to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji inside the Gurdwara. It was an attack by Pakistani tribesmen backed by Pakistani army.

Sant Kishan Singh and many prominent Sikhs of the region were inside at that time along with about 1500 Sikhs from nearby villages.

In a few moments, tribesmen and Pakistani army besieged the Gurdwara.

The young Sikhs came outside to face invaders. They killed many attackers and then were martyred one by one in front of Gurdwara Sahib. Now, only old people, women and children were inside the Gurdwara.

When Pakistanis faced no resistance any more, they put the Gurdwara Sahib on fire. Inside the Gurdwara, there were hundreds of women, old men and children. As the fire spread and heat became unbearable, people started to come out of the Gurdwara. As they came out, Pakistanis fired on them.

Among those martyred were Bibi Anand Kaur wife of late Sant Narayan Singh (a famous Sikh preacher and head of the Dera), and Bibi Malap Kaur, a daughter of Sant Narayan Singh.

Many Sikh women, including Bibi Parduman Kaur, a daughter of Sant Narayan Singh were abducted by invaders.

About 1300 Sikh men, women and children were martyred in this massacre.

In October, 1947, Pakistani tribesmen and Pakistani army attacked Kashmir. Sikhs lived in many villages all over the state. In this page, we are remembering a massacre which took place in Gurdwara Patshahi 6, Naluchi (ਨਲੂਛੀ).

Gurdwara Patshahi 6 was built in memory of the sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s Kashmir tour.

Many Kashmiri Pandits of Muzzaferbad (now in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) region became Sikhs during Gurus’ era. During Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Guruship and later as well, many of them joined the fold of Khalsa.

They were settled down in Naluchi and other nearby villages in Muzzaferabad. When they heard news of Pakistani attack of famous Sikh religious center ‘Dera Gufa’, they prepared themselves to face invaders.

Local Sikhs were given a few weapons by the state government. Under the command of S. Jagtar Singh, S. Saran Singh and Giani Ujagar Singh, around 400 Sikhs took positions to protect the Gurdwara Sahib.

Pakistani army and tribesmen entered Naluchi from two sides and besieged the Gurdwara.

Sikhs had though limited ammunition with them; they fought fearlessly for three days and killed many invaders. On the fourth day, when they had no ammunition left with them, they came out of their positions and drank the cup of martyrdom one by one.

In October, 1947, Pakistani tribesmen and Pakistani army attacked Kashmir. Sikhs lived in many villages all over the state. In this page, we are remembering a massacre which took place in Domel (Punjabi: ਦੋਮੇਲ, Hindi: दोमेल).

Domel

Sikhs were settled down in many villages around Muzzafrabad (present Capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir). When Pakistanis attacked Kashmir, many Sikhs living near border villages were martyred without getting any chance to leave the area.

As the news of massacres of Sikhs and Hindus spread in Muzzafrabad and nearby villages, they tried to go to safe places.

A group of about 1200 Sikh men and women of 8-9 villages (Kotli, Avihar, Basnara, Haru, Rarha, Tera and Bakka etc) were trying to escape under their leaders Sant Baldev Singh, Giani Rangeel Singh and S. Gurbaksh Singh.

When they reached ‘Domel’ (near Muzzafrabad, they were confronted by Pakistani Army. The Pakistani army commander promised Sikhs that if they surrender their weapons to Pakistani army, they would be sent to Jammu safely.
These Sikhs have not enough weapons and ammunition to battle an army of a country. Also, they thought Pakistani army will not harm innocent civilians. Sikhs gave their arms to Pakistanis. Immediately after getting all weapons of Sikhs, the army commander asked them either to embrace Islam or get killed.

When the leaders of this group of Sikhs found that they were betrayed, they asked to give them time to consider Pakistanis’ offer. Pakistanis agreed.

There was a hotel in Domel, whose Hindu owner was killed during this invasion. These Sikhs took a ‘Karhahi’ (ਕੜਾਹੀ, an iron utensil used to cook ‘Karhah Prashad’) and other utensils from this hotel.

They prepared ‘Karhah Prashad’ (ਕੜਾਹ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਦ) and gathered in form of congregation. As not a single Sikh was ready to be a Muslim, they decided to embrace martyrdom.

They performed an ‘Ardas’ (ਅਰਦਾਸ) asking the Waheguru for ‘Trust of Dharma and Gurmat’. The ‘Karhah Prashad’ was distributed among them. All of them took ‘Karhah Prashad’ with devotion.

The Sikh women and children were advised to run towards river Neelum. Bibi Makhan Kaur (wife of Sant Baldev Singh) and his young daughter led the women and children towards the river.

Sikh men went to Pakistani army commander. Amidst the holy slogans of ‘Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ (ਬੋਲੇ ਸੋ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥ ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ॥) they announced that they were ready to drink the cup of martyrdom.

Pakistanis opened fire by machineguns. Hundreds of faithful Sikhs cheerfully embraced the martyrdom.

Sikh women carried their children in their arms and jumped into the river.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Before 1947, Sikhs were populated in many cities and villages of present Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Presently, Malach (ਮਲਾਛ) is a subdivision of Union Council of Nathia Gali (in present Abbottabad District). There were four big villages in Malach region, where Sikhs were settled in good numbers. These villages were Jasa, Bhata, Dhrarhi (ਧਰਾੜੀ) and Sehar. There was another big village of Bagan, where Sikhs were in less numbers. Majority of residents of Bagan were Muslims.

There were a few other small villages in the region, where a handful Sikhs lived. Pasala, Bhotal and Badsar were among these villages.

Though, Pakistan came into existence officially on August 14, 1947, killing of Sikhs and Hindus in Abbottabad started in December, 1946. Many Sikhs were killed by mobs in December 1946 in Mansehra Tehsil.

In December last, 1946, religious fanatics held a meeting in village Bagan. They were present there in number of thousands. With their hot speeches, speakers of the gathering instigated locals and others to attack and kill Sikhs in the region.

Sikhs in Malach region listened about massacres of Sikhs and Hindus in Mansehra and other regions. They knew they had no option but to leave their ancestral land and properties to settle down in India. Their motherland was now to be known as Pakistan, a Muslim country.

Local Sikh leaders, S. Jawahar Singh, S. Chet Singh, S. Gulab Singh and S. Pritam Singh etc sent messages to Sikhs living in far villages to gather in village Bhata or Jasa. Many Sikhs of those villages gathered in Jasa. To reach India safely was a dangerous task.

To defend themselves from any attack, Sikhs gathered in Jasa made safety posts on roofs of two adjoining houses of S. Raj Singh and S. Garib Singh. Sikh women and children stayed in other Sikh houses of the village.

Two Sikhs, S. Raja Singh and S. Kaka Singh were sent to Abbottabad to get Police help, so that Sikhs stuck in Jasa could be evacuated safely. Putting their lives in danger, Raja Singh and Kaka Singh reached Abbotabad. The police reached Jasa and thus Sikhs were evacuated.

Sikhs gathered in village Bhata were not so lucky.

On January 3, 1947, thousands of rioters first attacked Sikhs of village Badgar and killed them on the spot; then they proceeded towards Bhata raising slogans of ‘Naara –e-Tadbeer’ (ਨਾਅਰਾ-ਏ-ਤਦਬੀਰ) and ‘Ali Ali’ (ਅਲੀ ਅਲੀ).

When Muslims of Bhata saw that Sikhs of their village were in danger, they asked Sikhs to embrace Islam to avoid killings. Sikhs at once refused to abandon their faith in Guru.

Now, attackers asked Sikhs in loud voice to embrace Islam to avoid death. Local Sikh leaders, S. Pritam Singh and S. Garib Singh roaring like lions replied in loud voice that it was better to die a martyr than to be a Muslim.

As soon as the Sikh leaders refused to be Muslims, attackers opened fire. Sikhs had a very few guns and limited ammunition, but they responded with fire.

The firing lasted for short time. Many attackers were killed by Sikhs. When rioters saw their own men were being killed, they adopted another plan. They besieged the village to make sure no Sikh could escape and put houses of Sikhs on fire.

Sikh women and children took refuge in those houses. When S. Pritam Singh saw those houses in fire, to help those women and children he came out of his safe position. As he reached in ‘Veranda’ of the house, he was shot with seven bullets. The brave Sardar tasted the martyrdom.

On the one hand, Sikh women and children were caught in fire; on the other hand, Sikhs were firing on attackers. S. Dharam Singh (115 years old), S. Garib Singh and S. Asa Singh fought very bravely with their limited ammunition and at last drank the cup of martyrdom.

Sikh women, elders and children were burnt alive in those houses.

Five Sikhs (S. Mahan Singh, S. Hari Singh, S. Nirmal Singh, S. Prakash Singh and S. Sangat Singh) were shot dead in village’s streets.

In village ‘Bhata’ total 124 Sikhs were martyred. In Sehra 12, in Badgar 5, in Jasa 7 and in Kala Pani 1 Sikhs were martyred by fanatics.

Source: ‘Brahman Sikh Itihas’ (Punjabi) by Jaswant Singh ‘Sudan’ and Prem Singh ‘Sasan’.