KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
19-Sep-1988
Punjab BJP president Hit Abhilashi shot dead by extremists in Chandigarh.
13-Sep-1988
Around 16 persons killed in a shootout at Sirhind.
11-Sep-1988
Ex-high priests observe Ardas Diwas by offering prayers in Gurudwaras. They reject the appointment of Talwandi as president of UAD and back SS Mann for the post. They announce that a Sarbat Khalsa would be held at Amritsar on Diwali November 9 to clear the controversy over the appointment of high priests.
07-Sep-1988
Seven family members of Station House Officer (SHO) Dhariwal shot dead by Khalistani terrorists in Majitha in Amritsar district.
01-Sep-1988
Darshan Singh Ragi takes over as Jathedar Akal Takht.
25-Aug-1988
J. S Talwandi elected as president of UAD by MPs, ex-MLAs and district presidents.
20-Aug-1988
Former High priests and Rode announce sending of Jatha for the liberation of Golden Temple Complex from the security forces if government fails to lift the siege by September 30, and appeals to Sikhs to observe Ardas Diwas on September 11 and 12.
20-Aug-1988
‘Shaheedi conference’ organised by SAD (L) at Longowal attended by Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Assam. The opposition leaders demand implementation of Punjab Accord and the release of Jodhpur detenus.
19-Aug-1988
Senior Superintendent of Police Sital Das and his deputy (detective) Baldev Singh Brar shot dead by Assistant Sub-Inspector Dalbir Singh at the station house officer's (SHO) room in Patiala. Dalbir Singh shoots himself after slaying the two.
15-Aug-1988
Jasbir Singh Rode and other high priests released from jail
13-Aug-1988
SGPC executive appoints Darshan Singh Ragi as Akal Takht Jathedar and Manjit Singh Calcutta as secretary general.
05-Aug-1988
S.S Mann dissolves 21- members of UAD council and five-member committee and enlarges presidium to include Chottepur and Walia.
03-Aug-1988
Supreme Court upholds the death sentence awarded to Satwant Singh and Tirath Singh, and acquits Balbir Singh in the murder case of Mrs Indira Gandhi.
25-Jul-1988
SGPC General Secretary Bhan Singh and head priest Giani Sohan Singh shot dead and SGPC secretary Mal Singh Ghuman injured in an attack in Ludhiana.
21-Jul-1988
KLF ’chief ‘, Avtar Singh Brahma killed in a police encounter in Rajasthan.
20-Jul-1988
A combined group of Badal, Tohra and Talwandi disassociates from unity move and decides to revive the old SAD under J. S Talwandi.
20-Jul-1988
SGPC executive demands handing over the control of Golden Temple to the SGPC or face an agitation
17-Jul-1988
UAD convenor, Joginder Singh Mann appoints a five-member committee to bring about unity among SAD factions.
09-Jul-1988
A UAD party meeting chaired by Captain Amrinder Singh appoints Joginder Singh Mann as convener and demands that the Golden Temple be handed over to the SGPC. It also condemns the expulsion of UAD and SGPC leaders by Baba Joginder Singh, and supports the power of the SGPC to remove and appoint Jathedars.
01-Jul-1988
A seven member AISSF ad-hoc committee supported by the Panthic formed with Gurnam Singh Bundala as convenor and Gurnam Singh Buttar as member.
26-Jun-1988
Meeting of United Akali Dal (UAD) presidium and Council members (pro-Baba Baba Joginder Singh) expels Manjit Singh Calcutta, Bhai Shaminder Singh and five SGPC executive members from the party. Sacking of five high priests by SGPC also rejected.
19-Jun-1988
Hindu Shiv Sena president Ramakant Jalota shot dead.
30-May-1988
SGPC executives dismisses five high priests, and sets. up a task force of 100 ex-servicemen to maintain the sanctity of the Golden Temple Complex. It decides to demolish unwanted structures, not allow anyone to live in the complex, and to observe June 18 as ‘paschatap’ (remorse) divas.
28-May-1988
P.S Badal, Sukhjinder Singh, S.S Dhindsa, Surjan Singh Thekedar, Sher Singh Doomcheri and others were detained under the National Security Act (NSA).
25-May-1988
Tarsem Singh of BKI claims crores of rupees sent by the ISYF World Sikh Organization and Council of Khalistan to Manochahal and Labh Singh to distribute among the families of killed youth and the November 1984 riots victims was used by them to purchase property in UP.
22-May-1988
Golden Temple opens to all devotees.
22-May-1988
United Akali Dal (UAD) withdraws its Morcha (Rally).
21-May-1988
‘Maryada’ (dignity) of Golden Temple is restored.
20-May-1988
Four persons killed and 20 others injured as a bomb explodes in a HRTC bus near Kandwal barrier.
20-May-1988
SGPC decides to withdraw kar-sewa being done by various sants in Golden Temple complex. They remove doors and partition in the parikrama rooms and request the Singh Sahiban not to interfere in its work.
18-May-1988
Around 30 labourers of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal killed and 12 injured in a shootout at Majat village.
18-May-1988
Three extremists commit suicide, two others killed in firing at the Golden Temple. Around 46 extremists surrender to the security forces.
16-May-1988
Dr Kewal Krishan of Congress-I injured in a shootout at Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district.
16-May-1988
S.S Barnala, Balwant Singh and 220 workers, try to gherao the Raj Bhawan, rounded up by Chandigarh Police.
15-May-1988
Around 146 extremists surrender from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
14-May-1988
P.S Badal and other leaders court arrest in Chandigarh.
13-May-1988
Pro-AISSF students from GNDU Amritsar, Polytechnic Hoshiarpur, PAU, ITI and GNE Ludhiana, Punjabi University and Thapar College Patiala observe a strike to protest the arrest of high priests and firing at the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar.
12-May-1988
P. S Badal reiterates that party MPs, MLAs, United Akali Dal councillors and SGPC members would march towards the Golden Temple Complex on May 14 to liberate it from security forces.
12-May-1988
High priests including Jasbir Singh arrested for attempting to march to Golden Temple.
11-May-1988
P.S Badal, Suchinda Singh, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Guryev Singh Badal warn that unless the Government lifts the siege of the Golden Temple Complex within 48 hours, they would march towards the temple on May 14 to restore the right of worship and pay obeisance.
04-May-1988
Jagir Singh and Nervier Singh display a sign board of ‘Khalistan office’ outside room No.14 of Parikrama in Golden Temple.
03-May-1988
Honouring the families of 134 Sikh Army deserters, the High Priests appealed to Sikhs to be baptized for the creation of Khalsa Raj.
14-Apr-1988
Jasbir Singh Rode clarifies that Bhai Manjit Singh has been appointed president with Gurjit Singh as senior Vice President, who would act as Convener till the release of the former from jail. .
13-Apr-1988
Jasbir Singh Rode addresses Baisakhi conference at Talwandi Sabo, quotes Bhindranwale as saying the foundation of Khalistan would be laid the day Government attacks the Golden Temple. Announces the dissolution of both factions of the AISSF and the formation of a five-member ad hoc committee with Gurjit Singh, Gurjit Singh Kaka, Surinder Singh Baba, Kulwant Singh Khukhrana and Sher Singh Brar.
11-Apr-1988
The leaders of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Shamsher Singh and Takht Singh, claim that their organization is a political one and its aim was Khalistan. They reject the activities of Panthic Committee, and reiterate that they believe in armed struggle. They also claim responsibility for the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Sant Longowal and a breach in Bhakra Canal.
23-Mar-1988
Poet Avtar Singh Sandhu, widely recognized as Pash, was killed by Khalistani militants in his native village Talwandi Salem in Jalandhar district on March 23, 1988. Pash became inspired by the Naxalite movement in Punjab during his early twenties, ultimately rising to prominence as a celebrated poet.
19-Mar-1988
Bhai Jasbir Singh, speaking on the second death anniversary of Jagjit Singh Rode, says their struggle would continue on the lines given by Sant Bhindranwale.
19-Mar-1988
Avtar Singh Brahma of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), says in a message that they would not surrender till the attainment of Puran Azadi (complete self-determination).
17-Mar-1988
Poet Jaimal Singh Padda was murdered on March 17, 1988, just outside his home in Lakhan ka Padda village in Kapurthala district by members of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), who later claimed responsibility for his murder. Labh Singh, the leader of KCF, was directly involved in Padda's assassination.
11-Mar-1988
AISSF (Gurjit), vice president Sher Singh Sher maintains that the aim of the federation was to attain Khalistan and nothing else would be acceptable as they had already rejected the Indian constitution.