New Delhi: On June 18, Canada’s House of Commons observed a moment of silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a figure associated with Khalistani extremism who was killed in Surrey, British Columbia, a year earlier during a gang-related incident.
This gesture by Ottawa reflects broader criticisms aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which has been accused of sheltering radical Khalistani elements. These groups have been known to engage in provocative acts such as burning effigies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and depicting the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Last September, Trudeau, whose government relies on the support of Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party, stirred controversy by suggesting that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing. However, no evidence supporting these allegations has been presented.
Nijjar, who reportedly seized control of a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey through intimidation tactics, was portrayed by Canadian intelligence as a benign religious leader.
Critics argue that the Canadian government’s alleged tolerance and promotion of Khalistani extremists is particularly contentious in light of the 1985 Air India bombing. This terrorist attack, attributed to Khalistani militants, resulted in the deaths of over 268 Canadians.
In contrast, the Consulate General of India in Toronto announced plans for a memorial ceremony on June 23 at South Lawns, Queen’s Park, Toronto, to honor the victims of the Air India ‘Kanishka’ aircraft bombing. Describing it as one of the worst acts of terror in civil aviation history, the consulate emphasized India’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
The memorial marks the 39th anniversary of the tragic bombing of Air India Flight 182, which claimed the lives of 329 individuals, including 82 children.
On June 23, 1985, Air India's Boeing 747, named Emperor Kanishka, departed from Toronto with scheduled stops in Montreal, London, Delhi, and Bombay. After additional passengers boarded in Montreal, the flight, designated Air India Flight 182, disappeared from radar after departing Shannon Air Traffic Control. A bomb in the cargo hold, planted in Vancouver, detonated, causing the aircraft to disintegrate mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean at 31,000 feet. Debris was later recovered off the Irish coast, with no survivors among the 329 on board. The victims included 268 Canadians, 27 Britons, and 24 Indians.
The bombing was attributed to the Khalistani separatist group Babbar Khalsa, possibly with involvement from the International Sikh Youth Federation. This attack remains Canada's deadliest terrorist act and the worst aviation disaster involving Air India until the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Inderjit Singh Reyat, a dual British-Canadian national, was identified as the bomb assembler and was the only person convicted in connection with the bombing, pleading guilty to manslaughter in 2003. Despite ongoing efforts, other key figures involved, including Talwinder Singh Parmar, were acquitted.
In 2010, a commission of inquiry led by former Supreme Court Justice John C. Major concluded that a series of failures by the Canadian government, RCMP, and CSIS allowed the attack to occur. The findings highlighted significant lapses in security and intelligence operations.
During the 1970s and 80s, a large number of Sikhs migrated to western Canada, including leaders of Babbar Khalsa. Tensions escalated in India, particularly after violent clashes in Amritsar in 1978 involving the Sant Nirankari Mission and orthodox Sikhs. Retaliatory actions by militant groups such as Babbar Khalsa followed.
Talwinder Singh Parmar, the founder of Babbar Khalsa in Canada, played a pivotal role. His criminal activities and evasion of extradition requests from India further strained international relations. Parmar's involvement in the Air India bombing underscored the global dimensions of Sikh militancy during that period.
In 1983, militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale occupied the Akal Takht within the Golden Temple complex, stockpiling weapons and advocating for greater state autonomy. The ensuing violence led to numerous casualties. The Indian government's response, Operation Blue Star in June 1984, aimed to remove militants from the Golden Temple but sparked widespread protests among Sikhs worldwide. In retaliation, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984, triggering anti-Sikh riots in which thousands died.
During this tumultuous period, Parmar met Inderjit Singh Reyat, a mechanic and electrician in Duncan, British Columbia. Parmar requested Reyat to construct a bomb, though Reyat later claimed ignorance of its intended use. Reyat's inquiries about dynamite, ostensibly for removing tree stumps, and discussions with colleagues about explosives reflected his anti-Indian sentiments.
Ajaib Singh Bagri, a prominent preacher in the Indo-Canadian community and forklift operator, joined Parmar in rallying Sikhs against the Indian government. They traveled across Canada, raising funds for Babbar Khalsa and inciting hostility toward India, particularly following Operation Blue Star. Bagri exhorted congregations to prepare for retaliation.
In late 1984, informants reported an initial plot to bomb Air India Flight 182. Despite various warnings to CSIS and the RCMP, Sikh militants discussed plans to bomb the flight in June 1985. These warnings went unheeded, culminating in the tragic bombing.
Moderate Sikh Ujjal Dosanjh, a vocal critic of extremist violence, was attacked in February 1985. In March 1985, CSIS obtained a court order to surveil Parmar, designating Babbar Khalsa as a terrorist group. Parmar's inflammatory speeches, including one in Calgary urging unity against India, underscored the group's militant agenda.
Assembly of the Bomb
In April 1985, Reyat purchased a Micronta digital automobile clock from RadioShack in Duncan, powered by a 12-volt lantern battery. He later bought an electrical relay and conducted a test using dynamite and gunpowder in the woods near Duncan and Paldi, which failed. Subsequently, Reyat obtained dynamite and blasting caps from a local well driller.
On May 31, 1985, Reyat brought a timer attached to a boombox to his shop for assistance. On June 4, CSIS agents trailed Parmar and another individual to Reyat's residence and workplace, observing a test explosion but not intervening. Reyat subsequently purchased a Sanyo tuner and smokeless gunpowder, registering his name on the explosives log. The bomb, housed inside a Sanyo tuner with a Micronta clock timer, was identified from debris recovered at Narita, leading to Reyat's conviction.
Day of the Bombing
On June 22, 1985, an individual using the name "M. Singh" confirmed reservations on Air India Flight 181/182 but was waitlisted. At 8:50 a.m., M. Singh checked into CP Flight 60 from Vancouver to Toronto, requesting his suitcase be transferred to Air India Flight 181, then to Flight 182. Despite initial refusal due to his unconfirmed seat, the bag was eventually accepted. M. Singh did not board the flight.
At 4:22 p.m. EDT, CP Flight 60 landed in Toronto, transferring luggage, including M. Singh's bag, to Air India Flight 182. Security concerns led to inadequate inspection of the bag, later identified near the aircraft's sensitive electronic bay.
At 8:15 p.m. on June 22, Air India Flight 181, a Boeing 747-237B named Emperor Kanishka, departed Toronto for Montreal-Mirabel, continuing as Flight 182 to London with 329 passengers. The aircraft made contact with Shannon Air Traffic Control at 7:09:58 GMT, vanishing from radar screens at 7:14:01 GMT as a bomb in a Sanyo tuner detonated in the forward cargo hold at 31,000 feet. The resulting explosion caused the aircraft to disintegrate mid-air, with wreckage discovered off the Irish coast. No distress call was made. ATC declared an emergency, prompting a search effort by nearby ships and the Irish Naval Service vessel LÉ Aisling.
Simultaneous Bombing in Japan
Before 1:22 p.m. PDT, an individual using the name L. Singh checked in for CP Flight 003 to Tokyo with one piece of luggage, intended for Air India Flight 301 to Bangkok. L. Singh did not board the flight. The second bomb exploded at Narita International Airport, killing two Japanese baggage handlers and injuring four others. Investigators later concluded that both bombings were intended to occur simultaneously, with miscalculations due to Japan not observing daylight saving time.
At 9:13 UTC, the cargo ship Laurentian Forest discovered wreckage and floating bodies. India's civil aviation minister attributed the plane's destruction to a bomb. Of the 329 passengers, all were killed, with only 132 bodies recovered. Many showed signs of explosive decompression and injuries consistent with a mid-air breakup. Additional evidence supporting the bombing was retrieved from wreckage at a depth of 6,700 feet. The British vessel Gardline Locater and the French cable-laying vessel Léon Thévenin recovered the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The CVR was retrieved on July 9, followed by the FDR on July 10.
The casualty list included 268 Canadians, 27 Britons, 22 Indians, and 12 individuals of undetermined nationality. Most were Canadian citizens of Indian origin, including numerous children. Forty-five passengers were Air India employees or their relatives.
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