In the merciful morning of May 20, 1983, forty years ago, when Ludhian woke up with the usual hustle and bustle of thickening traffic and rushing commuting, a different pace appeared in a large 1200-Agricultural University. The university area neighbors with the then developing Sarabha Nagar saw finer mixing, some of which have already been involved in their tasks and others have just started their day.
The characteristic buzz of the Royal Enfield 350 reflected and went to Thapon Hall, the administrative block from the PAU residential area. The deep rattle of the “bullets” – or “BULT”, as it was known in the rural hearts of Pandjab – was a well -known sound on the Pau campus. This 350 cc motorcycle with a robust assembly was not only a vehicle; It was a cultural icon, deeply intertwined with a sense of Machismo in the region.
PRITHIPAL SINGH, famous triple Olympic medalist, silver (60 ‘), gold (64’) and bronze (68 ‘); Gold in Tokyo, crowning the glory of his flooring career, including the connection of the 68 Mexico Olympic team, the aura also stems from his best shooter at all three Olympic Games, arrived at his well -known Royal Enfield. For many was Vritharpal or ‘Pirthi Paji’.
Dressed in a sharp white shirt, a light green turban and gray cotton pants, dismounted and parked his motorcycle in his usual place under the shadow of the trees next to Thapon Hall.
“Forehead”.
The address was barely whisper. Undercurrent.
Like Prithipal’s left hand, she gripped the left handlebar and his right hand maneuver the heavy, nearly 200 kg of Royal Enfield on his stand, came an exact moment. The clock was approaching 9 am, maybe a few minutes.
While he fastened the motorcycle, Prithari turned his head back and half of the turning. In these last seconds, he probably never saw the face of his killer clearly, just an outstretched hand and a partly hidden face. A bullet hit his face. A live crimson spot bloomed against the white shirt. The legs of the Olympic champion tired and the hands slipped out of the wheel. In the next second, the second murderer stepped forward, the bullet hit him in the back. Crimson bloomed on a white shirt.
Both attackers left quickly and then stopped. The second shooter proceeded again. From the corner of the eye, he noticed that Pritharpla was trying to get up. They could not afford any risks. The Dean of the Students had a reputation for being impressive and tireless; They couldn’t allow him to survive. It was generally known that Pritharpal was carrying a weapon tucked into his waist behind his back and fearing he could reach for it.
Two more shots were fired. Two killers who would later be identified as students quickly left. About fifty meters in the distance announced a sudden roar of a motorcycle engine that accelerated their escape.
The missiles froze both tens of about eyewitnesses – some accounts even placed the character on more than fifty – a group grouped on the ground floor, the other on the first and several just entered the administrative block. For a moment everyone stood motionless and allowed the killer enough time to refine. As the initial shock dispersed, the confusion retreated to the total chaos. Prithipal, who probably held his life, was hurried by car to Christian Medical College, where he was declared dead.
The landlines across the state buzzed with urgent calls-the vice-chairman, the Chancellor’s office (which also served as the Governor of the Pandjabs), the Chief Minister-Latce Police Jeeps and the cars accelerated the Sarabha Nagar police station. Political machines absorbed shocking news. At noon, the word spread all over the state and even arrived at the table of the then Prime Minister of Indian Gandhi in the capital of the nation: Olympic Champion Prithipal Singh was shot.
In a way, it was the culmination of almost five years of unrest in Pau, which began with the death of the student, Pritharm Singh Randhaw, followed by the murder of Para Singh, another student and famous player. The assassination of Prithipal Singha was seemingly predicted when student leader Ajaib Singh at Bhog 11.
The refrigeration reality was that Pritharm in a way predicted this tragic fate. He sent the letters to the Police SSP in Ludhiana and the Vice -President and explicitly mentioned the threat of death against him and even proposed on May 20 as a possible date. Yet, whether deliberate inactivity or total negligence, the contingent of 6-8 police officers, although they are present on academic land under the command of the subordinate inspector Ravinder Singh and probably Baggar Singha along with seven other constituents, could not stand either on his usual route or in Hall Thon. This forfeiture stimulated numerous conspiracy theories. But Prithar himself did little to avert the danger. Despite the fact that he was recommended to travel by car, a man who violated some of the strongest defense in the world, a leading shooter for India in three consecutive Olympic Games, undeniable “king” of punishment, probably rejected the threat represented by a seemingly disorganized group of students looking for its demise.
Disturbingly, in Pritharg’s pants, Victor Dasiah, the reigning general superintendent CMC, discovered a list containing the names of 16 students. This list was given by the pritharm by another student named Pritpal. However, Victor would later deny the provision of any such list to the police during the court proceedings.
One by one, eyewitnesses became hostile. One initially identified the accused’s individual, but then gave up and said that “could be wrong.” The judiciary has not been deeply inflicted in these discrepancies. Meanwhile, the police resumed the file from Pritharpal’s residence. This file contained essential documentation, carefully compiled for three years of careful investigation, describes in detail the alleged corruption in the premises and the alleged connection between students, pedagogical staff and vice -chairman, Dr. Amrik Sing Cheem.
Prithipal was looking for an appointment with the Chancellor through the Vice -President. BB Mahajan, established by Governor and University Chancellor AP Sharma, to investigate the university administration, including charges of corruption, granted him appointment at 8 June. Tragically, June never came to Pritharm.
This key documentation disappeared. Due to the character and importance of Prithipal Singha, the subsequent investigation was remarkably slow. Even after one of the accused, Bachittar Singh, surrendered in court, confessed to a crime and even led the police to the location of pistol and live cassettes – with a central forensic laboratory in Chandigarh, confirmed that it was a murder weapon – Bachitta later turned. In the end, cases were rejected by the court.
It was a university failure; It is leadership and complete disintegrations of administration. Nor did it help. His strong personality, the Olympian Halo and his presence greater than his life blinded him. Those who knew him also knew this aspect of his character. Loyalty, respect and respect depended deeply on it. Expected a certain level of respect. His decision was firm and had a clear feeling of right and bad. But sometimes what he saw as “right” may not be right for the situation that prevailed.
In this tragic sequence of events, starting with the death of Prithipal Singh Randhaw and continuing the murder of Para Singh, Pritharm Singh himself retreated. He did not seek the legal disabilities or try to understand the intensive cooking of anger in the student body. Rather than trying to suppress the riots, he got involved. And although maybe they were not directly involved, the area, students and students in Panjab believed differently; They were convinced that they were supporting a fraction against the Union.
Pritharm has never been proceeded from fighting – it is in the hockey field, opposition to the President of the Indian Hockey Federation Ashwini Kumar, or even when his participation in the 1964 Olympic Games was endangered. It was university policy and believed it was his lawn.
It is a recurring topic in tragedy: Hubris.
Sundeep Misra is a senior sports journalist and author. His latest book, killing the Olympic champion, is to be due soon.
Published:
Sabyasachi Chowdhury
Published on:
May 20, 2025
