Kanishka case: Canada deaf to A-I146;s warning

Canadian security agencies had failed to act on Air India8217;s warning that Sikh extremists could try to blow up a plane using a time-bomb

Canadian security agencies had failed to act on Air India8217;s warning that Sikh extremists could try to blow up a plane using a time-bomb, just three weeks before the attack on the Kanishka airliner that killed 329 people, mostly of Indian origin, on June 23, 1985.

Documents tabled before a public inquiry yesterday showed that Air India8217;s head office in Mumbai had advised Royal Canadian Mounted Police RCMP on June 1, 1985, that it feared Sikh extremists could try to blow up a plane using a time-bomb planted in checked baggage. The RCMP had asked the Canadian Security Intelligence Service CSIS for an updated threat assessment but failed to pass on to the spy service the new warning received from Air India.

The CSIS responded that although the general danger to all Indian government institutions was high, there was no evidence of a 8220;specific threat8221; to the state airline.

The probe headed by former Supreme Court judge John Major was told that Vancouver police had access to secretly taped conversations between members of Sikh militant group International Sikh Youth Federation 11 days before the bombing, which indicated they were planning 8220;serious8221; action, but did not realise the usefulness of the information.

Don McLean, the now-retired policeman who came across the information, testified that he thought the most likely target would be Indian diplomats posted in Canada.

About the reason for failing to share Air India8217;s warning, Anil Kapoor, one of the lawyers for the inquiry, said 8220;The explanation, as I understand it, was oversight.8221;

To which Major responded: 8220;Oversight is not filing your dog8217;s dish with water8230;It8217;s surprising that would be the explanation for something as dire as this.8221;

Story continues below this ad

McLean explained that the conversation came to light at a June 12, 1985, meeting in the home of the late Sharbjit Singh Khurana, a Sikh businessman who served as a source for Vancouver police.

It was only after the Air India plane went down that McLean realised the conversation was probably an allusion to the attack.

During the meeting, according to the report filed at the time by McLean, two members of the International Sikh Youth Federation argued over tactics. Manmohan Singh, was described as pointing an finger and saying: 8220;No consuls have been killed, no ambassadors have been killed. What are you doing? Nothing.8221;Pushpinder Singh, the man taken to task, replied: 8220;You will see, something will be done in two weeks. We will show the community we are serious.8221;

Two men charged with murder, Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik, were found not guilty after a lengthy trial. A third suspect, Inderjit Singh Reyat, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.

Story continues below this ad

Neither of the people McLean believed talked about the pending attack were charged.