KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
India 13-Apr-1978
At least 17 people killed and over a 100 injured after a ““Manav Ekta Sammelan Divas” organised by Sant Nirankaris ---a Sikh splinter group which believes in a living guru as opposed to the scriptural Guru Granth Sahib ---in Amritsar is attacked by Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal members. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a fiery Sikh leader who instigated the attack on Nirankaris by swearing that he would not let anyone insult Sikh Gurus, hits the headlines. .
India 10-Jun-1978
The Akal Takht (the highest political institution of the Sikhs) issues a “Hukumnama” or religious decree calling upon Sikhs to boycott the Nirankaris.
India 06-Aug-1978
The “Dal Khalsa” a far right Sikh organisation named after the Sikh Army that operated in the Punjab region in the 18th century, is formed, with a five-member Supreme Council comprising Harsimran Singh, Gajinder Singh, Harbhagat Singh, Jaswant Singh Thekedar, and Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib.
India 07-Oct-1978
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee adopts a resolution demanding a ban on Nirankari religious books, and calls upon Sikhs to abide by the ‘hukumnama’ issued by the Akal Takht.