Kanisha Bombing (Image Source: The Logical Indian)
On June 18, Canada’s House of Commons held a moment of silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a gang war a year prior in Surrey, British Columbia.
This action by Ottawa is part of a broader pattern by the Justin Trudeau government, which has been criticised for harbouring radical Khalistani extremists. These extremists have engaged in provocative acts, such as burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and creating tableaus depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
In September of the previous year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government relies on the support of Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party, accused Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar’s killing. However, Trudeau has not provided evidence to support these allegations.
Nijjar, who assumed control of a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey through intimidation of his own cousin, was depicted by Canadian intelligence as an innocent and religious leader.
The Canadian government has been accused of not only sheltering but also promoting Khalistani extremists and their propaganda. This approach has been criticised, particularly in light of the 1985 Air India bombing by the same Khalistani extremists, which resulted in the deaths of over 268 Canadians.
On the other hand, the Consulate General of India in Toronto announced a memorial ceremony scheduled for June 23, from 12 to 1 pm at South Lawns, Queen’s Park, Toronto, to honour the victims of the Air India ‘Kanishka’ aircraft bombing. Describing the Kanishka bombing as one of the most heinous acts of terror in civil aviation history, the consulate emphasised India’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
The memorial will mark the 39th anniversary of the tragic bombing of the Air India aircraft, which claimed the lives of 329 individuals, including 82 children.
Kanishka Bombing
On June 23, 1985, the Air India Boeing 747, named after Emperor Kanishka, embarked on its journey from Toronto. The flight had scheduled stops at Montreal, London, Delhi, and Bombay. Upon arriving in Montreal, additional passengers boarded, increasing the total to 329, including 22 crew members.
Mid-Air Explosion and Initial Investigations
After departing Montreal for London, the flight, designated Air India Flight 182, contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control Center. Five minutes later, it vanished from radar. A bomb placed in the cargo hold in Vancouver had detonated, causing the plane to disintegrate mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of 31,000 feet. Debris was later found off the Irish coast, with no survivors among the 329 on board. The victims included 268 Canadians, 27 Britons, and 24 Indians.
Perpetrators and Investigations
The bombing was attributed to the Khalistani separatist group Babbar Khalsa, possibly with involvement from the International Sikh Youth Federation. This attack remains the deadliest terrorist act in Canadian history 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. He was the only person convicted in connection with the bombing, pleading guilty to manslaughter in 2003. Other key figures, including Talwinder Singh Parmar, were also implicated. The investigation and trial, costing nearly CAD 130 million, resulted in the acquittal of other accused individuals.
Commission of Inquiry Findings
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.
Historical Context and Background of Sikh Militancy
During the 1970s and 80s, a significant number of Sikhs emigrated to western Canada, including leaders of Babbar Khalsa. Tensions escalated in India, particularly after the 1978 violence in Amritsar involving the Sant Nirankari Mission and orthodox Sikhs, leading to retaliatory actions by militant groups like Babbar Khalsa.
Talwinder Singh Parmar, the founder of Babbar Khalsa in Canada, played a central role. His criminal activities and eventual escape to Canada, despite India’s extradition requests, further complicated international relations. Parmar’s involvement in the Air India bombing underscored the transnational dimensions of Sikh militancy during this period.
Build-Up to the Bombing
In 1983, rebels led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale occupied the Akal Takht of the Golden Temple and amassed weapons, advocating for greater state autonomy. The ensuing violence resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. The Indian government rejected the secessionist demands, leading to Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to remove militants from the Golden Temple. This operation sparked global protests from Sikhs. On October 31, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in which thousands of Sikhs were killed.
During this period, Parmar met Inderjit Singh Reyat, a car mechanic and electrician in Duncan, British Columbia. Parmar asked Reyat to construct a bomb; Reyat later claimed ignorance of its intended use. Reyat’s inquiries about dynamite under the pretext of removing tree stumps and discussions with co-workers about explosives reflected his anger towards the Indian government.
Ajaib Singh Bagri, a forklift driver and influential preacher in the Indo-Canadian community, joined Parmar in rallying Sikhs against the Indian government. They travelled across Canada, raising funds for Babbar Khalsa and inciting anger against the Indian government, particularly for Operation Blue Star. Bagri urged congregations to prepare for revenge.
Reported Plot and Ignored Warnings
In late 1984, informants reported an initial plot to bomb Air India Flight 182. Various reports to CSIS and the RCMP were dismissed. In June 1985, RCMP informant Paul Besso recorded Sikh militants discussing plans to bomb an Air India flight. Despite providing these recordings to the RCMP, the warnings went unheeded.
Moderate Sikh Ujjal Dosanjh, who spoke out against extremist violence, was attacked in February 1985. In March 1985, CSIS obtained a court order to surveil Parmar, recognising Babbar Khalsa as a terrorist group. Parmar had previously incited a congregation in Calgary to “unite, fight, and kill” in response to the attack on the Golden Temple.
Assembly of the Bomb
In April 1985, Reyat bought a Micronta digital automobile clock from RadioShack in Duncan, capable of being powered by a 12-volt lantern battery. He later bought an electrical relay and tested a device using a 12-volt battery, gunpowder, and dynamite in the woods near Duncan and Paldi, but the test failed. He eventually obtained dynamite and blasting caps from a local well driller.
Final Preparations and Execution
On May 31, 1985, Reyat brought a timer attached to a boombox to his shop for help. On June 4, CSIS agents followed Parmar and an unknown male from Parmar’s house to Reyat’s home and shop, observing a test blast but not intervening. Reyat later bought a Sanyo tuner and smokeless gunpowder, signing “I. Reyat” on the explosives log. Debris from the Narita explosion showed the bomb had been housed inside a Sanyo tuner with a Micronta clock as a timer, leading to Reyat’s conviction.
The Day of the Bombing
On June 22, 1985, a man calling himself “M. Singh” confirmed his reservations on Air India Flight 181/182 but was wait-listed. At 8:50 a.m., M. Singh checked into CP Flight 60 from Vancouver to Toronto, insisting his suitcase be transferred to Air India Flight 181 and then to Flight 182. The bag was accepted despite initial refusal because his seat was unconfirmed. M. Singh did not board the flight.
At 4:22 p.m. EDT, CP Flight 60 arrived in Toronto, and the luggage, including M. Singh’s bag, was transferred to Air India Flight 182. Due to increased security threats, the bag was not properly inspected. The bag was later determined to be placed near the aircraft’s sensitive electronic bay.
The Explosion and Immediate Aftermath
At 8:15 p.m. on June 22, Air India Flight 181, a Boeing 747-237B named Emperor Kanishka, departed Toronto for Montreal-Mirabel, becoming Flight 182. It departed for London with 329 people on board. At 7:09:58 GMT, the aircraft “squawked 2005” as requested by Shannon Airport ATC, then disappeared from radar. At 7:14:01 GMT, a bomb in a Sanyo tuner exploded in the forward cargo hold at 31,000 feet, causing the aircraft to break up mid-air. The wreckage settled in deep water off the Irish coast. No mayday call was received. ATC declared an emergency, requesting nearby ships and the Irish Naval Service vessel LÉ Aisling to search for the aircraft.
Simultaneous Bombing in Japan
Before 1:22 p.m. PDT, L. Singh checked in for CP Flight 003 to Tokyo with one piece of luggage, intended to transfer to 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 determined that both bombings were intended to occur simultaneously, but the conspirators failed to account for Japan not observing daylight saving time.
Recovery Efforts
At 9:13 UTC, the cargo ship Laurentian Forest discovered wreckage and bodies floating in the water. India’s civil aviation minister announced that a bomb likely destroyed the plane. All 329 on board were killed, and only 132 bodies were recovered. Many bodies showed signs of explosive decompression and injuries from a vertical force, indicating the aircraft had broken up mid-air.
Additional evidence supporting the bombing theory was recovered from the aircraft wreckage found on the seabed at a depth of 6,700 feet. The British vessel Gardline Locater and the French cable-laying vessel Léon Thévenin located the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The CVR was recovered on July 9, and the FDR on July 10.
Victims and Casualties
A casualty list indicated that the victims included 268 Canadians, 27 Britons, 22 Indians, and 12 people of undetermined nationality. Most passengers were Canadians of Indian descent, with many children among the victims. Forty-five passengers were Air India employees or their relatives.
Investigations
Over six years of investigations, numerous threads of the plot were uncovered. The sudden downing of the plane was linked to a bomb near the forward cargo hold. The flight was connected to an earlier bombing in Japan, originating from Vancouver; tickets for both flights were purchased by the same person, and both planes carried bags without the checking passengers.
On June 22 this year, Canadian police confirmed that the investigation into the bombing of Air India Flight 182 continues to be “active and ongoing.” In a statement released on Friday, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) described the Air India investigation as the longest and one of the most intricate domestic terrorism probes in RCMP history. He emphasised, “Our investigative efforts continue to be active and ongoing.”
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