‘40 years of silence’: Families of Saka Nakodar firing victims make final appeal at Akal Takht as they eye international forums for justice

Victims of the ‘Saka Nakodar’ police firing were remembered as “sons of the Khalsa Punjab” who laid down their lives while protesting the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.

3 min readAmritsarUpdated: Feb 4, 2026 06:11 PM IST

Saka Nakodar 40th anniversary, Nakodar police firing 1986, Justice Gurnam Singh inquiry report,

Students at Punjabi University, Patiala, pay tribute to the victims and demand justice on the 40th anniversary of the of the Saka Nakodar police firing. (Express photo)

Four decades after the ‘Saka Nakodar’ police firing, the families of four young Sikh men who were killed in Punjab’s Jalandhar gathered at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on Wednesday to mark the anniversary, accusing successive governments of failing to deliver justice despite repeated assurances at the highest levels.

The families offered prayers for the victims and reiterated that their struggle for accountability continues as state institutions have “failed them” even after 40 years.

The four unarmed students — Ravinder Singh, Baldhir Singh, Jhilman Singh, and Harminder Singh — were shot dead by the police on February 4, 1986, during a sacrilege related protests in Nakodar. The incident was similar to the killings of two Sikhs protesting against the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in police firing at Behbal Kalan in Faridkot on October 14, 2015.

The then-Punjab chief minister, Surjit Singh Barnala, ordered a judicial inquiry by a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Gurnam Singh. The panel submitted its report to the Punjab Government on October 31, 1986.

The inquiry report noted many contradictions in the police’s version, and recorded that all the men were shot dead from very close range in their upper bodies. Harminder was shot in the mouth, it said.

‘4 decades of silence, delay and injustice’

Victims were remembered by their families as “sons of the Khalsa Punjab” who laid down their lives while protesting the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, which they said had come under attack on that day.

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Baldev Singh, father of Ravinder Singh and a central figure in the campaign for justice, said he has endured “four decades of silence, delay and injustice” and that the system has still not owned up to the killings. “While age is not on my side, my commitment to get justice for my son and three other young men is as strong as it was forty years ago. I will now approach international forums for justice,” he said.

‘Final appeal’

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Families say every “democratic door” has been knocked over the years — from chief ministers and state governments to courts, Governors and even Presidents — but the state has not ensured even “basic accountability” for the killings.

“Their blood was spilled in broad daylight, and yet the truth has been buried under layers of bureaucracy, political hesitation and institutional indifference,” the families said in their joint statement, stressing that their struggle has always remained peaceful, lawful and rooted in faith in democratic institutions.

They maintained they have never sought revenge, only “truth, recognition, and a transparent, time-bound judicial process,” and warn that history will judge whether the present government shows the courage to act or allows yet another generation to inherit “unresolved grief.”

The families described this 40th anniversary as their “final appeal,” not because their pain has lessened but because, they said, 40 years is already too long for any democracy to deny justice to bereaved parents and siblings.

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Far from fading, they added, the memory of the four men has “hardened into resolve” that will now increasingly look beyond domestic forums and onto international platforms in the search for justice.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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