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Sikh Terrorism
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism. United States Department of State Publication 10321
Description
Sikh terrorism is sponsored by expatriate and Indian Sikh groups who want to
carve out an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of the Pure) from
Indian territory. Sikh violence outside India, which surged following the
Indian Army's 1984 assault on the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine,
has decreased significantly since mid-1992, although Sikh militant cells are
active internationally and extremists gather funds from overseas Sikh
communities. Active groups include Babbar Khalsa, Azad Khalistan Babbar
Khalsa Force, Khalistan Liberation Front, Khalistan Commando Force, and
Khalistan National Army.[1996 ed. omits Khalistan National Army.] Many of these groups operate under umbrella
organizations, the most significant of which is the Second Panthic
committee.
Activities
Sikh attacks in India are mounted against Indian officials and facilities,
other Sikhs, and Hindus; they include assassinations, bombings, and
kidnappings. Sikh extremists probably bombed the Air India jet downed over
the Irish Sea in June 1985, killing 329 passengers and crew. On the same
day, a bomb planted by Sikhs on an Air India flight from Vancouver exploded
in Tokyo's Narita Airport, killing two Japanese baggage handlers. In 1991,
Sikh terrorists attempted to assassinate the Indian Ambassador in Romania--
once India's senior police officer in Punjab from 1986 to 1989--and
kidnapped and held the Romanian charge in New Delhi for seven weeks. In
January 1993, Indian police arrested Sikhs in New Delhi as they were
conspiring to detonate a bomb to disrupt India's Republic Day, and, in
September 1993, Sikh militants attempted to assassinate the Sikh chief of
the ruling Congress Party's youth wing with a bomb. Sikh attacks in India,
ranging from kidnappings and assassinations to remote-controlled bombings,
have dropped markedly since mid-1992 as Indian security forces have killed
or captured a host of senior Sikh militant leaders. Total civilian deaths
in Punjab have declined more than 95 percent since more than 3,300 civilians
died in 1991. The drop results largely from Indian Army, paramilitary, and
police successes against extremist groups.
Strength
Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation
Northern India, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America.
External Aid
[Sikh militant cells are active internationally and extremists gather
funds from overseas Sikh communities.] Sikh expatriates have formed a variety of international organizations that
lobby for the Sikh cause overseas. Most prominent are the World Sikh
Organization and the International Sikh Youth Federation.
Created: 04/02/95
Last Updated: 02/11/97
Page Maintained by George Goncalves - ggoncalves@nps.navy.mil