KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
13-Apr-1986
United Akali Dal, AISSF and Damdami Taksal organize a Sarbat Khalsa, where several resolutions are passed. These include continuing the struggle against the central government, an appeal to Sikhs to gherao Akali MLAs and force them to resign, and declaring that the Jathedar of Akal Takht would only be appointed by Sarbat Khalsa.
29-Mar-1986
Bandh call given by AISSF (Manjit) in Punjab to protest the sentence awarded to the assassins of PM Indira Gandhi receives partial response.
28-Mar-1986
Around 14 persons including eight RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) workers shot dead and several injured by five terrorists dressed in police uniforms and riding a motorcycle and a scooter in Ludhiana district. Most of the casualties occurred at the Daresi ground. This is the first major attack on the RSS workers in several years.
26-Mar-1986
Around 15,000 workers of the radical Sikh groups march into the Shiromani Akali Dal conference to protest the arrest of United Akali Dal leader, Mohkam Singh. Five killed and 18 injured in police firing. Several vehicles and tents set ablaze.
26-Mar-1986
Separate conferences organized by United Akali Dal/AISSF/Damdami Taksal and Shiromani Akali Dal at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district.
21-Mar-1986
Two persons killed in Police firing during clashes after the United Akali Dal workers led by Joginder Singh violated prohibitory orders and gheraoed the Vidhan Sabha.
16-Mar-1986
Violent clashes occur between AISSF and Shiv Sena workers near Gurudwara Shri SatKartaria, Batala in Gurdaspur district. The AISSF appeals to Sikhs stop supplying milk and fodder to Batala.
18-Feb-1986
Thakur Singh of Damdami Taksal declares that he will remain inside the Golden Temple complex until the completion of Kar Sewa.
16-Feb-1986
Bhog ceremony held at Golden Temple after Akhand Paath. The foundation stone laid for the reconstruction of Akal Takht and tribute was paid to the assassins of Prime Minister Indira at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
16-Feb-1986
The Sarbat Khalsa Samagam called by Sikh Sahibs declares the decisions taken by United Akali Dal and AISSF during the January 26 Sarbat Khalsa as “null and void”. They also urge the SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal to stop the interference at Akal Takht by these fringe groups.
14-Feb-1986
Gurdev Singh Kaunke, appointed by radical Sikh groups as the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in absence of Jasbir Singh Rode, declares that the Panthic Committee will send AISSF and Damdami Taksal activists to Anandpur Sahib on February 16.
04-Feb-1986
The radical groups, United Akali Dal and AISSF attack police blocking their entry into curfew bound Nakodar town in Jalandhar district to avenge the fire in the Granthi’s Gurudwara room rumoured to have been started by Shiv Sena. Four AISSF activists killed and seven others injured in the clash with the police.
01-Feb-1986
A new extremist organization called “Khalistan Commando Force” came into existence with Manbir Singh Chaheru as the ‘self-styled commander’ of the organization and Tarsem Singh as the ‘second-in-command’. The organization was created in the name of Giani Hari Singh of Akhand Kirtani Jatha, who died during the 1978 Nirankari-Akhand Kirtani Jatha/Damdami Taksal clash.
01-Feb-1986
A new extremist organization called “Khalistan Commando Force” comes into existence with Manbir Singh Chaheru as the self-styled ‘commander’ of the organization and Tarsem Singh as the ‘second-in-command’. It aims to avenge the death of Giani Hari Singh of Akhand Kirtani Jatha during the 1978 Nirankari-Akhand Kirtani Jatha/Damdami Taksal clash.
30-Jan-1986
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kirpal Singh announces that that the Sarbat Khalsa Samagam will be held February 16 and changes the venue from Amritsar to Anandpur Sahib.
29-Jan-1986
The radical Sikh groups, United Akali Dal, AISSF and Damdami Taksal decided to gherao the district courts on February 21, disrupt the supply of milk and fodder to the cities, and gherao the Vidhan Sabha during the budget session. The President of United Akali Dal, Mohkam Singh, announced the formation of a 151-member Panthic committee for running the Sikh affairs and administration of Gurudwaras.
29-Jan-1986
The radical Sikh groups, United Akali Dal, AISSF, and Damdami Taksal decide to gherao district courts on February 21, disrupt the supply of milk and fodder to the cities, and gherao the Vidhan Sabha during the budget session. The President of United Akali Dal, Mohkam Singh, announces the formation of a 151-member Panthic committee for running the Sikh affairs and administration of Gurudwaras.
26-Jan-1986
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kirpal Singh replaced by Jasbir Singh Rode. A five -member Panthic Committee comprising Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Dhanna Singh, Aroor Singh and Gurdev Singh Usmanwala formed for guiding the Sikh panth.
26-Jan-1986
The widows of Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh and Gen. Subeg Singh are honoured and the Khalistan flag is hoisted at the Sarbat Khalsa Samagam, a biannual assembly held at Akal Takht in Amritsar.
22-Jan-1986
The President of SGPC announces that a five -member committee comprising Thakur Singh, Jagtar Singh, Harbans Singh, Uttam Singh, Khadoor Sahib, and Deewan Singh would supervise the Kar Sewa from January 26,1986. The AISSF in turn puts up posters saying that Damadami Taksal would be performing Kar Sewa without the help of SGPC.
17-Jan-1986
The United Akali Dal leader, Mohkam Singh rejected the appeal of 5-high priests to cooperate with SGPC in re-construction of the Akal Takht. The United Akali Dal did not recognize the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Kirpal Singh.
17-Jan-1986
United Akali Dal leader Mohkam Singh rejects the appeal of five -high priests to cooperate with SGPC in re-construction of the Akal Takht, and refuses to recognize the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Kirpal Singh.
10-Jan-1986
A “Rasta Roko Agitation” called by .the radical Sikh students’ group AISSF fails to evoke public response.
10-Jan-1986
The radical Sikh students’ group AISSF called for the “Rasta Roko Agitation”. However, it did not evoke any response from the public.
28-Dec-1985
Shaheed Samagam at Gurudwara Gurdarshan Prakash in Amritsar attended by United Akali Dal and AISSF workers. Mohkam Singh reads out a resolutions authorizing Thakur Singh to look after the affairs of Damdami Taksal.
20-Aug-1985
Akali Dal Leader Harchand Singh Longowal shot dead at a village gurudwara in Sherpur (Sangrur) in Jullundur district.
26-Jul-1985
Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Parkash Singh Badal and other Sikh leaders reject the Rajiv-Longowal accord for not including the rehabilitation of army deserters in the accord. The party withdraws its “Dharam Yudh Morcha”.
25-Jul-1985
The Punjab extremist groups --United Akali Dal and AISSF -- reject the Rajiv-Longowal Accord. At a meeting convened by United Akali Dal, Harchand Singh Longowal, Barnala and Balwant Singh accused of destroying the Akal Takht.
24-Jul-1985
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal sign the Punjab Accord, in which the government accepts the demands of Akali Dal, which in turn agrees to end its agitation.
09-Jul-1985
Former Ludhiana Senior Superintendent of Police A.P Pandey escapes an assassination attempt. .
10-May-1985
A former Member of Parliament and Lok Dal leader, Chaudhary Balbir Singh shot dead by Khalistani extremists in Hoshiarpur.
05-May-1985
SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra declares that the Akal Takht would be re-constructed according to the Sikh tradition.
01-May-1985
Joginder Singh dissolves all the factions of Shiromani Akali Dal and forms a 9-member committee with Inderjit Singh Advocate as General Secretary and Simranjeet Singh Mann as convenor. Harchand Singh Longowal resigns as Akali Dal President, and rejects the announcement made by Joginder Singh. The district Jathedars, however, disapproved of the 9-member committee and also rejected Longowal’s resignation.
01-Apr-1985
Punjab Home Minister Buta Singh is ex-communicated from the Sikh panth due to his failure to appear before the Akal Takht.
05-Mar-1985
The Jathedar of Akal Takht asks Punjab Home Minister Buta Singh to appear before it and accept his punishment.
27-Feb-1985
The Akali Dal declares June 3 to June 6 would be observed as Black Days, and demands the ban on the radical group AISSF be lifted.
06-Feb-1985
At the residence of Capt. Amarinder Singh, many eminent Sikhs including retired army and civilian officers held a meeting in which they formed a “Sikh Forum”. The forum has been created to work for the welfare of the Sikhs with Capt. Amarinder and Lt. Gen. J S Arora as its convenors. Justice R S Narula, Manmohan Singh and Brig. Sukhjit Singh as the member of the Executive Committee. During the meeting, a 7-member committee was also formed to study the implications of Anandpur Resolution, River Water dispute, Chandigarh and other territorial issues, riots in Delhi and at other places, and Operation Blue Star.
30-Nov-1984
Gurcharan Singh Tohra re-elected as the President of SGPC along with PS Lalpura as the Vice President. Lalpura rules out talks with the government without the Anandpur Resolution, which seeks more autonomy for Punjab.
31-Oct-1984
India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi shot dead by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh at the gates of her 1 Akbar Road residence in New Delhi. Anti-Sikh riots erupt across India, in which thousands of Sikhs are killed, while Sikhs in other states are forced to flee to Punjab.
29-Sep-1984
Indian Army withdraws from the Golden Temple and hands over the keys of the building to SGPC.
02-Sep-1984
World Sikh Convention held at Gurudwara Shaheddan in Amritsar The head priest of Akal Takht, Giani Kirpal Singh declares India’s President Giani Zail Singh as “Tankhiya” or guilty of religious misconduct and ex-communicates union sports minister Baba Buta Singh. The government must withdraw from the Golden Temple by September 30, 1984, he warns.
11-Aug-1984
Baba Santa Singh condemns the demand for Khalistan and ex-communicates GS Tohra from the Sikh Panth during a Sarbat Khalsa called by him
17-Jul-1984
Nihang leader and Jathedar Baba Santa Singhji Budahdal starts Kar Sewa of Akal Takht. The SGPC and the high priest of Akal Takht refuse to recognize the Kar Sewa and declare Baba Santa Singh as “Tankhiya” – or guilty of religious misconduct. The high priest also ex-communicates him from the Sikh Panth and directs the sangat not to take any part in Kar Sewa.
03-Jun-1984
The Indian Army storms the Golden Temple (the holiest shrine in Sikhism), in Amritsar using tanks and heavy artillery to flush out militants from the Akal Takht as part of Operation Bluestar. Several other Khalistani strongholds were also attacked across the state. The Akal Takht was extensively damaged during the three-day operation. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, General Subeg Singh and many other extremists killed in the attack. Harchand Singh Longowal, GS Tohra, Manjit Singh, Harminder Singh Sandhu and others arrested from the Golden Temple. Prakash Singh Badal demands the withdrawal of the army from the Golden Temple. He also calls on Sikhs to observe June 17 as “Ardas Diwas” and to wear black turbans and dupattas and return medals or awards received from the government.
23-May-1984
Harchand Singh Longowal announces the decision to intensify the Dharam Yudh Morcha and to start the non-cooperation movement from June 3. He also asks people to obstruct the movement of food grains and not to pay land revenue.
12-May-1984
The Chief editor of the Hind Samachar group of papers, Ramesh Chandra, shot dead at a busy intersection of Jullundur.
10-May-1984
Giani Partap Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht was shot dead at his home in Tahli Chowk. He had raised his voice against Bhindranwale stocking up arms in the Akal Takht.
10-May-1984
Giani Partap Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, shot dead at his home in Tahli Chowk in Amritsar. He had protested against Bhindranwale stocking arms in the Akal Takht.
30-Apr-1984
Retired DSP Giani Bachan Singh shot dead along with his wife, daughter and a gunman in Amritsar.
30-Apr-1984
Retd.DSP GianiBachan Singh was shot dead along with his wife, daughter and a gunman.