Beant Singh

Beant Singh may refer to:

Beant Singh (assassin)

Beant Singh (Punjabi: ਬੇਅੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ; 6 January 1959 – 31 October 1984), born in Jaitu in the Faridkot district of Punjab (India), was a bodyguard of Indira Gandhi who allegedly took part in her assassination in 1984. He was shot dead by the Prime Minister's other bodyguards after he killed her.

Assassination of Indira Gandhi

Operation Blue Star left a deep mark in the thinking of Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. On 31 October 1984, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, both part of the Indian elite forces, who served as bodyguards for the Prime-minister, took Sikh Baptism (Amrit) at a Gurdwara in Delhi.

Satwant Singh always worked in the late shifts and Beant Singh worked in the early morning shifts in prime minister's security. On 31 October, Satwant Singh faked a stomach bug, and swapped duties with another guard so that they could work together to execute their plan. And in the same morning, i.e. at 09:00 of 31 October 1984 as Indira Gandhi walked from her house. Initially Beant Singh drew a .38-calibre revolver and fired three shots into Indira Gandhi's abdomen. As she fell to the ground, Satwant Singh fired all 30 rounds from his Sten submachine gun into her body. They both allegedly shouted Sikh religious slogan of "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!!" during the assassination.

Beant Singh (chief minister)

Beant Singh (19 February 1922 - 31 August 1995) was an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1992 to 1995. He was a member of Indian National Congress. He was killed by suspected Khalistani freedom fighters in a car bombing. The killing was in retaliation for the alleged human rights violations during the anti-insurgency operations in Punjab.

Early life

Beant was born in undivided Punjab and later migrated to the Bilaspur village in the Doraha tehsil of the Ludhiana district. Thereafter he shifted to village Kotli in the same district. He completed his education from the Government College Lahore. At the age of 23, he joined the army but after two years of service, decided to make a switch to politics and social work.

Political career

After the 1947 partition, Beant Singh entered the Punjab politics. In 1960 he was elected chairman of block samiti (committee) of Doraha, in Ludhiana district. After serving for some time as Director of the Central cooperative bank in Ludhiana, Beant Singh entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (assembly) as an independent candidate in 1969.