Attari - "I am proud of my brother, he has not been killed, he has attained martyrdom for the honour of Sikh religion. He refused to convert to Islam and preferred to lay down his life," an inconsolable Taranjit Singh told TOI here on Monday, a day after his cousin's beheaded body was found.
Pakistani Taliban had ruthlessly beheaded Jaspal Singh and Mahal Singh while two others - Gurjit Singh and Gurvinder Singh - are still in their custody. Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Sham Singh, however, said only Jaspal Singh had been killed.
Jaspal's cousin, Taranjit, who lives in Lahore, has been in India for the past three weeks on a pilgrimage. He revealed that the kidnapping of Sikhs by Taliban was not only for money, but also to threaten the small Sikh community of Pakistan to embrace Islam.
Taranjit, who was on his way back to Pakistan, said: ``Had it only been about money, we (the Sikh community of Peshawar) would have contributed and paid the hefty ransom of Rs 3 crore and forgotten about it for the sake of their lives. But they (Taliban) had forced Jaspal to cut his hair and convert to Islam to which my brother refused and they beheaded him.'' He said Jaspal had sacrificed his life for the religion and to protect his identity.
 Scene from Antim Saskar of Jaspal Singh |
"I have to go and see how the situation is there for us,'' he said, unsure of the fate of the Sikh community in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. He, however, admitted that he was afraid to return home.
Kirpal Singh, brother-in-law of the victim, said, ``Jaspal and his mother were also to accompany us and they had even got the visa for pilgrimage, but then he was abducted.'' Jaspal is survived by four children, including two daughters, and his widow, he added.
Sikhs in general were safe in Pakistan, but in FATA and other areas under control of Orkazai Agency, Taliban set their own rules, Kirpal Singh said.
Parnaam Shaheeda Nu.
From Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheed. To Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Shaheed. To the 4 Sahibjadey & Mata Gujar Kaur. To Bhanghani Yudh de Shaheed against the Hindu Hill Rajas, so many more, till 1984 (Punjab, Delhi & all over), to today!
Parnaam Shaheeda Nu.
I SALUTE MY BROTHER,U HAVE ATTAINED MARYTDOM NOT ONLY FOR SIKH COMMUNITY BUT FOR OTHER COMMUNITY TOO, THEY SHALL NOT WIN, MYSELF BEING A HINDU AND A HUMAN BEING SALUTE YOU. MAY YOUR SOUL GET ETERNAL PEACE.
WAHE GURU DA KHALSA,WAHE GURU DE FATEH.
guru fateh jio
I salute Jaspal Singh. According to me, Sikhi is not just who born with it...Sikhi is who live and die for it.. .
guru kirpa karan assi v sikhi saana le kuch kar sakkiya
We salute the great Jaspal Singh.
My deep condolences to Jaspal Singh's family and to the entire Sikh Community in Pakistan. May God grant them peace and strength.
This is a horrible act by sub-humans. As a Pakistani and a Muslim I am personally saddened and embarrassed that such vile acts are happening there. Mera sir sharam se jhuka huwa hai.
This is clearly an un-islamic act...there is no compulsion in Islam for anyone to convert. Everyone is free to worship as they wish. The people who did this are illiterate animals who do not know what Islam is, or how humans should behave in a civilized world. So very sad to see Islam hijacked by these crazy extremists.
The Pakistani government needs to do more to protect all minorities against such terror.
I salute great Jaspal Singh.
Like Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, you have also attained Martyrdom for faith and truth. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
JASPAL WE ALL SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR DIGNITY. WE ARE SO MUCH PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR PARENTS WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THIS BRAVE PERSON. YOU HAVE TAUGHT LESSONS TO ALL OF US TO BE BRAVE LIKE YOU. YOU WILL BE ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS.
WAHEGURU JI DA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI DI PHATE
Jaspal Singh u have followed Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's path.
Babaji bless his soul.
wahegruu ji...
pranaam hai ohna shaheeda nu...baar baar lakh baar...
koti koti pranam
ਮਰਣੁ ਮੁਣਸਾ ਸੂਰਿਆ ਹਕੁ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਹੋਇ ਮਰਨਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੋ ॥
May god bless you eternally. You lived and died for your faith without compromising. I salute your bravery and principles and hope humanity will prevail and remind all that we are one.
JASPAL SINGH IS A TRUE LEGEND AND A TRUE SIKH A TRUE MARYTRER WHO HAS LAID HIS LIFE FOR SIKHI. HE IS NOT LIKE OTHER SIKHS WHO HAS CUT THEIR HAIRS AND SELLING THEIR SIKHI IN MARKET. THEY ARE NAMAK HARAMS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH JI.
tere singh na mukaye kade muke
dhan dhan baja waleya
JASPAL WE ALL SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR DIGNITY. WE ARE SO MUCH PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR PARENTS WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THIS BRAVE PERSON. YOU HAVE TAUGHT LESSONS TO ALL OF US TO BE BRAVE LIKE YOU. YOU WILL BE ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS.
WAHEGURU.
AISI MARNI JO MAREY BAHUR NA MARNA HOYE,SOORA SO PECHANEYE JO LAREY DEEN KE HAIT PURJA PURJA KAT MAREY KABHU NA CHADEY KHET
SALUTE YOU BROTHER U SHOWED THE WORLD HOW A SIKH LIVES N DIES FOR HIS FAITH.
waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh
wah bhai jaspal singh ji wah!! tusi ajj sanu ik haluna de k gaye ho k asi aj apne piyo bajan wale nu pachaniye te jhoothe deh dhari guruan te babeya ton bachiye.
parnam shahida nu
KHALSA.... ( SPIRITUAL WARRIOR) WE ALL SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR DIGNITY. WE ARE SO MUCH PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR PARENTS WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THIS BRAVE PERSON. U KEPT THE SIKHI ALIVE IN U EVEN AFTER DEATH.
It seems our enemies are ignorent about Sikh history, Khalsa will get himself cut in pieces but never betray his father Guru Gobind singh Kalgidhar sachepaatshajee.'Jithe khoon singhan da dulle othe
rang kesari jhulle' ,Jaspal Singha teri qurbani da mul pauga meere veer.
I salute Jaspal Singh, his family and the entire Sikh community residing in pakistan.
Wahegurujee ka khalsa
wahegurujee ki fateh.
WAHEGURUJI ..bless Jaspal Singhji ..
I bow down my head and salute Jaspal Singh..