SS
militant

Surinder Singh

— Died 1 January 1984

Chief bodyguard and hitman for Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, key Sikh militant leader in early 1980s Punjab.

Surinder Singh Sodhi was a Sikh militant known for being the chief bodyguard, chief hitman, transport minister, and right-hand man of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Sodhi played kirtan tapes constantly, saying he wanted a peaceful death with holy music, not the sound of bullets.

The Story

1
In 1981, Surinder Singh Sodhi's violent clash with Nirankaris in Punjab escalated tensions; wielding a rake, he injured 15 people and was promptly released after Bhindranwale intervened with the police.
2
🌾 Known for unparalleled motorcycle skills, Sodhi once escaped a police encirclement by riding a bullet motorcycle on a single railway beam for three miles, turning his getaway into a legendary folktale.
3Under Bhindranwale's command, Sodhi became a key militant, orchestrating deadly assassinations including that of Nirankari leaders Resham Singh in 1982 and Kultara Singh in 1983, often using disguises and surprise tactics.
4💥 In retribution for violent crackdowns on Sikh protesters, Sodhi masterminded the April 1983 looting of a Home Guards armoury in Ferozepur, seizing dozens of rifles and stenguns to fuel militant resistance.

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Sodhi once spent three months in deep simran meditation, abstaining from food and sleep, an extreme spiritual act unusual for a militant. This intense devotion occurred during his rise as Bhindranwale’s right-hand man. Such asceticism contrasted sharply with his violent militant activities.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Kotli Bawa Dass
Surinder Singh Sodhi was born in village Kotli Bawa Dass, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, into a Jatt Sikh family.
c.1962
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Career
Clash with Nirankaris
Sodhi assaulted a Nirankari group injuring 15 during a conflict in Punjab, leading to his arrest and immediate release after Bhindranwale's intervention.
1981
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Career
Assassination of Nirankari Leader Resham Singh
Disguised as police, Sodhi and Labh Singh killed Resham Singh, a Sant Nirankari leader, in Hoshiarpur district.
1982
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Career
Looted Ferozepur Armoury
Sodhi led the looting of a Home Guards armoury seizing numerous rifles and stenguns in retaliation for Rasta Roko Morcha casualties.
1983
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Career
Killed BJP MLA Harbans Lal Khanna
Sodhi and Labh Singh assassinated BJP leader Khanna in Amritsar, triggering curfew and riots.
1984
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Death
Assassinated in Amritsar
Sodhi was shot seven times at a tea shop by Baljit Kaur and Surinder Singh Shinda, sparking revenge killings.
1984
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 06
💡SURPRISING

After killing Nirankari leader Resham Singh disguised as police, Sodhi and accomplice Labh Singh fired victory shots while fleeing on a Royal Enfield Bullet, turning assassination into a theatrical defiance.

02 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Sodhi’s assassination involved a female assassin, Baljit Kaur, who confessed inside the Golden Temple and implicated Akali Dal leaders in a plot to kill him for political rivalry, showing deep factional betrayals.

03 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Sodhi was the only Sikh in Bhindranwale’s group who could operate an RPG, a rare expertise that made him invaluable in militant operations.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Sodhi’s militant activities and assassination intensified factional violence that escalated tensions leading up to Operation Blue Star in 1984. His story remains a stark example of Punjab’s turbulent 1980s, influencing ongoing debates on militancy and political conflict in the region.

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