KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 27-Jan-1984
Harchand Singh Longowal of Shiromani Akali Dal (L) calls for a Punjab bandh on February 8 and demands the amendment of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which recognises Sikhs as part of the Hindu community. .
India 09-Feb-1984
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale urges his followers to purchase weapons and motorcycles, or steal it from police stations or from Hindus, so that he can fulfil his mission of destroying “Dushts”
India 04-Mar-1984
Bhindranwale predicts the government will act against Khalistanis in villages and towns of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Kapurthala, and urges Sikhs to snatch weapons from police and security forces. He again urges his followers to acquire arms and motorcycles and start acting against anti-Panthic forces, Police informers, Hindus and Congress leaders in Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, and stop policemen from entering the Golden Temple.
India 20-Mar-1984
The Government of India banned the radical student group AISSF (All India Sikh Students Federation).
India 20-Mar-1984
The Government of India bans the radical student group All India Sikh Students Federation, or AISSF. .
India 28-Mar-1984
Delhi Gurudwara Parbhandak president Harbans Singh Manchanda shot dead in his car in Delhi.
India 03-Apr-1984
Member of Parliament and head of Punjabi Department of Punjab University Dr. V.N Tiwari shot dead in Chandigarh’s Sector 24.
India 30-Apr-1984
Retd.DSP GianiBachan Singh was shot dead along with his wife, daughter and a gunman.
India 30-Apr-1984
Retired DSP Giani Bachan Singh shot dead along with his wife, daughter and a gunman in Amritsar.
India 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.
India 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.
India 12-May-1984
The Chief editor of the Hind Samachar group of papers, Ramesh Chandra, shot dead at a busy intersection of Jullundur.
India 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.
India 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.
India 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.
India 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
India 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.
India 29-Sep-1984
Indian Army withdraws from the Golden Temple and hands over the keys of the building to SGPC.
India 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.
30-Nov-1984
Gurcharan Singh Tohra was re-elected as the President of SGPC and elected PS Lalpura as the Vice President. Lalpura ruled out the possibility of talks with the government without Anandpur Resolution.
India 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.