DELHI, India: The saga of the deadly bombing of an Air India flight in 1985 surfaces again in the news after relations between India and Canada take a new hit in the wake of allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh Leader in Canada.
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was investigating “credible allegations” that could link the Indian government to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. He was among the top Sikh leaders striving for an independent Sikh in India state from the platform of ‘Khalistan movement’. India has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd”.
Since then, several diplomatic and political commentators in India have brought up the 1985 attack – also known as the “Kanishka bombing” because the Boeing 747 was named after the Emperor Kanishka – which also strained Delhi-Ottawa relations.
What happened in 1985?
On 23 June 1985, an Air India flight travelling from Canada to India via London, exploded midair off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board. The cause was a bomb in a suitcase that was loaded onto the flight even though the ticket holder had not boarded. The victims included 268 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, and 24 Indians. Only 131 bodies were retrieved from the sea.
This tragic incident was attributed to Sikh separatists seeking revenge for the Indian army’s storming of the Golden Temple in Punjab in 1984. While arrests were made, the case against the alleged mastermind, Talwinder Singh Parmar, was weak, and he was eventually released. In 2000, two individuals were arrested for their involvement, but they were acquitted in 2005 due to factual errors and credibility issues with witnesses.
Criticism arose over Canada’s handling of the investigation, including allegations of negligence and mismanagement. A public inquiry in 2006 acknowledged a series of errors that led to the “largest mass murder in Canadian history.” Despite these findings, justice remained elusive for many victims’ families.
The Kanishka bombing, which affected a significant number of people of Indian origin, continues to evoke painful memories in India. Many believe that justice has not been served for the victims, and the recent dispute between India and Canada has reignited discussions surrounding this tragic event.
As the two nations grapple with their strained relationship, the Kanishka bombing serves as a poignant reminder of the need for answers and empathy for those affected by this devastating act of aviation terror.
