Kanishka bombing, Hoshiarpur bus massacre: How Khalistan terrorism became a global threat

Canada's PM Justin Trudeau has accused the Indian government of involvement in killing a Khalistani terrorist named Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India's Ministry of External Affairs has called the allegation absurd. Polls show the Canadian PM is struggling and that the leader of opposition, Pierre Poilievre is ahead of him. The Trudeau government is dependent on support from NDP, which is led by Jagmeet Singh, who faces allegations of being a Khalistani sympathiser. 

It is unclear what is compelling the Canadian PM to behave in this manner but some suggest that Trudeau has to appease a certain constituency to ensure his party has a chance in the next elections. Be that as it may, the extremist Khalistan movement remains a concern for Indians. Over the years, this extremist movement has resulted in the death of numerous innocent people. 

Here is what you need to know

Khalistan is a separatist movement seeking the creation of an independent Sikh state, often referred to as Khalistan, within the region of Punjab in India. While the movement primarily gained prominence in the late 20th century, it has also witnessed a degree of activity outside India.

The 1985 Kanishka Bombing, also known as the Air India Flight 182 bombing, was a tragic terrorist attack that remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters involving a deliberate act of sabotage. This incident was linked to Sikh militants seeking to "avenge" the Indian government's Operation Blue Star in 1984 by murdering innocent people. 

On the morning of June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 took off from Montreal, Canada, on its way to London, England, and ultimately Delhi, India. The flight had a layover in London before proceeding to its final destination. Approximately one hour after takeoff, while flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland, the aircraft, a Boeing 747-237B named "Kanishka," disintegrated in mid-air due to an explosion. All 329 people on board, including 280 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, and 22 Indian citizens, lost their lives in the disaster. It was the deadliest terrorist attack involving an aircraft at that time.

On June 23, 1985, a bomb intended for another Air India flight exploded at Narita International Airport in Japan. The intended target was Air India Flight 301 bound for Bangkok and Delhi. The explosion resulted in the deaths of two baggage handlers and the injury of four others. Khalistani extremists were responsible for this attack as well. 

Why is India so concerned about the Khalistani extremists?

Terrorist attacks by Khalistani extremists has been more frequent in India. During the tumultuous years of the Khalistan movement in India, Khalistani militants carried out a series of violent attacks and massacres.

In May 1985, they orchestrated a devastating wave of bombings across New Delhi and several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Over the course of 14 hours, more than 30 bombs exploded at bus and train stations, as well as public parks, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 86 lives lost.

In December 1986, in Hoshiarpur district, 24 Hindu passengers met a gruesome fate when they were ordered off a bus and mercilessly massacred by militants.

March 1988 witnessed another horrific incident when militants targeted Hindu villagers celebrating the festival of Holi in Hoshiarpur district, killing 32 and injuring 25 individuals. In addition to this tragedy, 12 more Hindus lost their lives in separate incidents the night before.

The violence escalated in June 1989 when Sikh militants opened fire on a bus, killing two Sikh passengers who had tried to intervene and save Hindu passengers.

In November 1989, the campus of Thapar Engineering College in Patiala turned into a scene of terror as militants took the lives of 19 students while they slept in their dormitory.

The brutality continued in June 1991 when Khalistan Commando Force militants carried out a merciless attack on two trains. The first train, near Baddowal, was halted, and passengers were indiscriminately fired upon. In a second train nearby, militants segregated Sikh and Hindu passengers, forcing Hindus off the train before executing them. 125 men, women, and children were killed.

May 1992 marked another grim chapter when M.L. Manchanda, the director of an All India Radio station in Patiala, was kidnapped and decapitated by Babbar Khalsa militants. He had failed to comply with their edict to broadcast exclusively in Punjabi, resulting in his gruesome fate.

The Khalistan movement's campaign of violence extended to attacks on those participating in statewide elections in Punjab. In February 1992, militants ruthlessly gunned down election workers, political campaigners, voters, and set off over 18 bombs, further exacerbating the turmoil and instability during this troubled period. It is unclear why Canada refuses to act against people associated with this extremist movement.