RCMP team in India seeking information about 1985 bombing Nov 14, 2008
Carol Belisle of the internal assistance group in the Canadian Justice Department, said the interviews would focus "on obtaining any knowledge of Canadian Babbar Khalsa members and Indian Babbar Khalsa members that may assist the Air India investigation.". An Indian court authorized the Mounties to question two members of the terrorist group, the Babbar Khalsa International, who are currently in jail for the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995 ... The two members -... (Globe and Mail -- International)
Canadian police to question terrorists imprisoned in Chandigarh Nov 12, 2008
CHANDIGARH: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officials on Wednesday arrived at the high-security Burail jail here to interview two Babbar Khalsa terrorists in connection with the mid-air bombing of Air India's Kanishka flight in June 1985. The RCMP officers will question the two terrorists, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Paramjit Singh Bheora, in the presence of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Chandigarh police officials. (Times of India)
Man pretended to be Sikh to seek refuge Nov 12, 2008
TORONTO: A Hindu man, who came to Canada in 1998 on fake papers and lied about his links to Babbar Khalsa to seek refuge on grounds of religious persecution in India, is in double trouble. Because of his lies, he now fears both the Indian government and Babbar Khalsa ... He said he was told by his advisers to pretend to be a Babbar Khalsa member to persuade the Canadian authorities to grant him refugee status. (India Times, India)
Opinion: Terror Has No Religion Nov 11, 2008
The list of 32 organisations that are proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act also includes terrorist organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen, Khalistan Zindabad Force, International Sikh Youth Federation and Babbar Khalsa International. Yet today when there is mounting evidence of involvement in terrorist attacks against the Bajrang Dal and other such organisations, the government has not taken action against them. (India Times, India)
Temple supported terrorist ordered deported: documents Nov 8, 2008
Forty-two-year-old Baljit Ram, identified as a Babbar Khalsa member, went underground for almost a decade and only came to the attention of the Canada Border Services Agency when he was stabbed near Surrey Central SkyTrain on Sept. 30 ... In fact, the temple will host a memorial service Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the assassination of journalist Tara Singh Hayer, gunned down after writing critically against the Babbar Khalsa ... "Ram subsequently made a refugee claim which was found... (Vancouver Sun)
Indian visitors to Canada now questioned about family's criminal ... Nov 5, 2008
VANCOUVER - Every Indian national who wants to visit Canada must now answer a sweeping questionnaire that asks if they or any of their relatives around the world have ever had links to militant groups such as the Babbar Khalsa or the International Sikh Youth Federation ... Eight groups are specifically referenced: the Babbar Khalsa, ISYF, Khalistan Commando Force, Khalistan Zindabad Force, Khalistan Liberation Front, All India Sikh Student Federation, Lashkar e Tayyiba/Jamaat al-Dawat and... (Canada.com)
'9/11-type strike mooted for India' Aug 10, 2008
A Babbar Khalsa militant had admitted that he was asked by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to join a flying club and crash his plane on the Bombay High oil platform during a solo flight, former additional secretary in the Research & Analyses Wing B Raman said ... In the book published by Lancers, he said a Babbar Khalsa terrorist trained by the Inter Services Intelligence, was arrested by the Indian authorities in the early 1990s. (India Times, India)
Canada grants bail to Air India bomber Reyat Jul 13, 2008
The bombing was carried out by Canada-based Babbar Khalsa to avenge the Indian Army operation at the Golden Temple in June 1984 to flush out militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers who had taken refuge in Sikhism's holiest shrine ... India-born Reyat, 55, who was raised in Britain and moved to Canada in the mid-1970s, was roped in the Air India bombing by plot mastermind and Babbar Khalsa leader Talwinder Singh Parmar to avenge Operation Bluestar the codename for the army... (Sify.com, India)
Sikh independence Apr 18, 2008
That was when separatist groups like the Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation took up arms against India, hijacking buses and planes and, in 1985, blowing up Air India's Flight 182 with the loss of 329 lives ... For them, the mastermind of the Air India bombing and the founder of the Babbar Khalsa, Talwinder Singh Parmar, is a martyred hero. (CBC.ca)
The heartache behind the headlines Apr 17, 2008
Much of the film relies on re-enactments that show the covert activities of Parmar and his associates connected with the Sikh group Babbar Khalsa. However, the truth about Parmar has never been fully revealed, and probably never will. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Terrorists honoured outside temple on eve of huge Sikh parade Apr 13, 2008
In addition, several people last year wore jackets or T-shirts with the names of two banned groups in Canada - Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation. But for the majority of the participants Saturday, Vaisakhi was nothing more than a happy occasion to share and celebrate, and few wanted to talk politics. (Canada.com)
Most politicians skip this year's Sikh parade Apr 13, 2008
This year, organizers set up a separate tent for a display that included photographs of the founders of the Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation, groups Canada considers terrorist organizations. Surrey Mayor Diane Watts refused to appear alongside parade organizers as she usually does. (Globe and Mail)
Kanishka witness murder: Man gets 4 yrs Mar 30, 2008
Hayer, the editor of Punjabi Indo-Canadian Times , was killed in November 1998, allegedly by an assassin hired by the Babbar Khalsa to prevent him from giving his testimony at the Kanishka Air India trial. The alleged assassin, Daljit Singh Basran, who was reportedly killed in 2006, was paid $50,000 to execute the Hayer murder plot by the banned radical Sikh organization. (India Times, India)
Convicted terrorist Reyat denied bail Mar 8, 2008
In the perjury indictment against Reyat issued two years ago, the Crown alleged he had minimized his involvement in the bombing plot and lied about his relationship with plot mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar, the founder of the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group who was killed in India in 1992. Reyat has been in jail since February 1988, when he was arrested in England after being charged with manslaughter for a second bomb that exploded at Narita, Japan. (Canada.com)
India PM warns of Sikh militancy Mar 7, 2008
Former members of one such group, Babbar Khalsa International, are said to be active in Punjab ... Indian intelligence agencies believe Babbar Khalsa has the backing of Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Kanishka bomber's perjury trial in Jan '09 Mar 5, 2008
The perjury indictment lists that Reyat lied when he told the court that he didn't know Air India plot mastermind Parmar was a terrorist who led the Babbar Khalsa, and that he had no knowledge of the Sikh problem in India. He also lied when he said that Parmar had asked him "to make one explosive device" while he actually made two that blew off Kanishka and killed two baggage h 00004000 andlers in Tokyo. (India Times, India)
4 BKI militants nabbed for Shingaar blast Dec 31, 2007
Ludhiana, December 30 The Shingaar cinema blast in which six migrants were killed and 37 others hurt was the handiwork of about 20 Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militants, the police said here today. Two-and-a-half months after the blast, DGP, Punjab, N.P.S. Aulalkh today announced that the four arrested militants were trained and funded by BKI leaders in Pakistan. (The Tribune)
Terrorist financing laws wrong for Canada, inquiry told Oct 27, 2007
By contrast, he noted, India passed laws in the 1980s that sought to stop money from Canada being used to bolster Sikh separatist terrorist groups like the Babbar Khalsa, which is blamed for the Air India bombing that killed 329. "When I used to travel in India in the '80s, I was told that it (the law) was aimed at Canada. I was told that it was aimed at Vancouver; that they didn't want money going from Sikh temples to Khalistan for terrorist activities," Mr. Bromley said. (National Post)
Air India witness didn't fear for safety, officer testifies Oct 18, 2007
At one point during a December, 1996, interview with the woman, Best told her that Bagri's group, the Babbar Khalsa, was no longer a powerful force. "In all sincerity, we feel the threat from them, as a group, is minimal, minimal, minimal, because they do not have the infrastructure in place that they once had. Their day has come and their day has gone from a political perspective," Best told Ms. E.. (National Post)
Ludhiana cinema blast: long investigation could lie ahead Oct 16, 2007
Punjab police sources said they were focussing on the possible role of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) the last Khalistan terror group believed to have credible offensive capabilities. Officials note that the globally-proscribed BKI, which frequently targeted migrant workers from Bihar during the past, has been desperate to register success. (Hindu)
Key Air India witness wary and fearful, inquiry hears Oct 16, 2007
That could deprive the spy agency of valuable information about other contacts she might have within the Sikh separatist movement especially Babbar Khalsa, the militant group blamed for the downing of Flight 182. Mr. Laurie sought guidance from his superiors at CSIS, and documents tabled at the inquiry show they too wrestled with the problem for months. (Globe and Mail -- National)
Punjab blast catches security agencies napping Oct 15, 2007
While reacting to the Ludhiana blast, former Punjab supercop K.P.S. Gill pointed out: 'Cells of the Babbar Khalsa international are trying to re-activate in Punjab ... Punjab-based terrorist groups like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) did figure in the twin bomb blasts in cinema halls in Delhi in 2005. (Earthtimes)
Ludhiana blast: Jihadi-Khalistani link likely Oct 15, 2007
DIG Intelligence Jagdish Mittal on Monday mentioned the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), as among the organizations suspected of being behind the blast. Six to seven people are currently being questioned in the case - some of them staff members of the Shringar cinema. (NDTV.com)
A heros welcome for Anand Oct 15, 2007
BOMB BLAST IN LUDHIANA: 7 dead, 25 injured in a bomb blast at a cinema hall in Ludhiana n 20 injured admitted to the CMC hospital in Ludhiana n Police: High probability that RDX was used in the blast n Centre rushes National Security Guards to Ludhiana n Compensation of Rs 2 Lakh announced for the kin of the dead n CMC Ludhiana Hospital numbers: 0161- 5026999, 0161 - 2229011 n Security alert sounded for Punjab, UP in the wake of the blast n Forensic experts suspect the use of RDX in Ludhiana... (Times Now.tv)
Police knew about Air India confession, inquiry hears Sep 25, 2007
Parmar, who founded the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group, blamed the bombing on ISYF leader Lakhbir Singh Brar and Inderjit Singh Reyat, who told police Parmar had been the mastermind. "He asked some help from me, doing these intense activities. After conferring with him for some time, I agreed to help," Parmar is quoted as saying of Brar. (National Post)
Air India inquiry probes suspect's purported confession Sep 25, 2007
But Talwinder Singh Parmar, head of the militant Sikh separatist group Babbar Khalsa, reportedly insisted, during his 1992 interrogation, that he was a minor player and that others took the lead in hatching the plot that cost 329 lives ... Nevertheless, investigators looked into possible links between the Sikh youth federation and Babbar Khalsa. (Globe and Mail)
Air India inquiry to hear story of purported Parmar confession Sep 24, 2007
Talwinder Singh Parmar, head of the militant Sikh separatist group Babbar Khalsa, was arrested shortly after the attack, but the RCMP didn't have enough evidence to make any charges stick. He was freed and eventually slipped out of Canada. (Globe and Mail)
Erasing wiretap tapes called honest `mistake' Sep 21, 2007
The leader of Babbar Khalsa, a Sikh separatist group, was never successfully prosecuted and fled Canada to India, where he was killed in a gunfight. "I think CSIS has acknowledged and does acknowledge we made an error in destroying the tapes," said Warren. (Toronto Star)
Avowed Sikh separatist keeps the faith Jul 30, 2007
"He is our Nelson Mandela." Singh helped arrange the marriage of one of Reyat's daughters in 2003 to the son of the former Ontario leader of the Babbar Khalsa as a way of helping Reyat's family ... He later lost faith in Parmar's leadership, though he still believes the former Babbar Khalsa founder is innocent in the downing of Flight 182 and the murder of 331 people. (Vancouver Sun)
Six persons convicted for assassinating Beant Singh Jul 28, 2007
Those pronounced guilty by the Additional Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi, who presided over the court, which was conducted inside the premises of the high security Burail Jail here, include Jagtar Singh Hawara a top operative of the terrorist outfit, the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He along with the other accused Balwant Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmeet Singh were convicted under Sections 302, 307 and 120 (b) of the IPC and Naseeb Singh was held guilty under the... (Hindu)
Police Commissioner Dadwal Jul 26, 2007
Dadwal was instrumental in cracking the Beant Singh assassination case in 1995 with the arrest of two Babbar Khalsa activists within five days of the murder. He was the first to introduce the Special Task Force (STF) in Delhi, for action against unauthorised construction and encroachment mafia. (Expressindia.com)
Petrol costly by 67 paise Jun 7, 2007
New Delhi, June 6 Two years after blasts rocked two packed cinema halls in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the police have traced the main conspirators, alleged to be members of the pro-Khalistan outfit, Babbar Khalsa International, in Germany ... New Delhi, June 6 Two years after blasts rocked two packed cinema halls in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the police have traced the main conspirators, alleged to be members of the pro-Khalistan outfit, Babbar Khalsa International,... (The Tribune)
Suspects had clearance to airport months after Flight 182, probe told May 24, 2007
The 10 were identified in late 1986 when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service ran the names of the employees of an airport cleaning contractor against a database of people belonging to the International Sikh Youth Federation and the Babbar Khalsa organization ... It said four names were linked to the International Sikh Youth Federation and seven with Babbar Khalsa. (Globe and Mail)
Cost concerns prevented bag search for doomed Air India May 17, 2007
Police allege that the bombers were part of a militant cell of the Sikh separatist group Babbar Khalsa based in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Only one person has been convicted for the bombing. (Monsters and Critics.com)
A plethora of warnings May 14, 2007
Dhar, who ran a clandestine network of informers while serving as a diplomat in Canada from 1983 to 1987, says he warned French that Canadian authorities should pay special attention to Talwinder Singh Parmar, the head of the militant sect Babbar Khalsa, and his associate Inderjit Singh Reyat ... In April 1985, Dhar said, he relayed word from one of his contacts that Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation were planning a "spectacular show," although India's national airline... (Toronto Star)
Sikh extremists listed targets before Air India bombing May 4, 2007
members of the Babbar Khalsa, and charged with plotting acts of terror in India ... The letter, which is addressed to Chris Scowen, CSIS deputy director of counter-terrorism, says the arrests had not made a dent in either the Babbar Khalsa or the International Sikh Youth Federation ... There appears to have been no abatement in activity among the Canadian ISYF and Babbar Khalsa members since the recent arrests in Montreal, Vancouver and Hamilton. (National Post)
Terror from the Deep BlueAddMyLinkImage("/news/181_1953141,0008.htm", "Terror from the Deep Blue"); Mar 18, 2007
B. Raman, former RAW additional secretary and a counter-terrorism analyst, recounts that in 1992, a militant from the Babbar Khalsa group allegedly told the police during his interrogation that during his training in Pakistan, he was asked to join the Mumbai Flying Club, take a solo flight and crash his aircraft into the Bombay High. Sam Bateman of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore says that apart from those scenarios, in the longer term, presumably there will be more... (Hindustan Times, India)
Court books three Babbar Khalsa men Mar 11, 2007
Court frames charges against three Babbar Khalsa men. Press Trust of India. (Hindustan Times, India)
Charges framed against BKI militants Mar 11, 2007
NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court has ordered framing of charges against three members of outlawed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) including its chief for allegedly engaging in terrorist activities. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rajiv Mehra charged BKI chief Paramjeet Singh along with two of his close associates Jasbeer Singh and Bhupender under various provisions of the Arms Act and under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (India Times, India -- Community News)
PM raises stakes in bid to extend security powers Feb 23, 2007
He was once a member of the militant Sikh separatist group, Babbar Khalsa, and was interviewed by RCMP after a youth who stayed at his house, Harkirat Singh Bagga, was charged in the 1988 shooting of B.C. Sikh newspaper publisher Tara Singh Hayer. A spokesman for the RCMP, Staff Sergeant John Ward, said the force would never reveal who they plan to question in such a hearing. (Globe and Mail)
PM's attack on Liberal fuels bedlam in Ottawa Feb 22, 2007
Mr. Saini has been a member of a Sikh fundamentalist group called Babbar Khalsa (Panthak). In 1988, Mr. Saini helped Harkirat Singh Bagga enter Canada as a refugee. (Globe and Mail)
