As a college student Bhim Singh was a political activist going on hunger strike as early as 1959. In 1961, Bhim Singh was arrested following the death of Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in April 1961. He had led thousands of students from GGM Science College Jammu, in protest against ex Crown Prince Karan Singh and prime minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, who had refused to fly the flag at half mast. Bhim Singh had led the college students to capture the Secretariat building, and climbed the roof, to fly the flag at half mast in honour of his deceased king. Bhim Singh managed to tear down the Jammu and Kashmir flag while armed police fired live ammunition at him. In the aftermath Bhim Singh was arrested by the deputy inspector general of police, and imprisoned in Katua and later Reasi jails. He was imprisoned for over six months from 1961 to 1962 in Jammu Central Jail, where he shared a jail cell with Sheikh Nazir the future general secretary of the National Conference party.
