India: Treatment of members of the Akali Dal (Mann) and their family members as well as people perceived in the early 1990s to be militants or supporters of militants by police and/or security forces (1998-August 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 6 September 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IND35357.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: Treatment of members of the Akali Dal (Mann) and their family members as well as people perceived in the early 1990s to be militants or supporters of militants by police and/or security forces (1998-August 2000), 6 September 2000, IND35357.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be3f1c.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to The Tribune, on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the storming of the Golden Temple (Operation Bluestar), the leader and several members of the Akali Dal (Mann) (alternatively known as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), SAD (A) and Akali Dal (Amritsar)) were detained by police to ensure that the anniversary "passed peacefully" (6 June 1999). The Tribune reported that the following people were "taken into custody": Simranjit Singh Mann, leader of the Akali Dal (Mann); Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa International; Ram Singh, General Secretary of the Akali Dal (Mann); and Dhian Singh Mand, a former member of parliament (ibid.). The Tribune also reported that the police raided the houses of six other individuals, at least two of whom the article identified as members of the Akali Dal (Mann) (ibid.).
Following these detentions, The Tribune reported that "many SAD (Amritsar), human rights Dal Khalsa and federation leaders [had] gone underground to avoid arrest" (ibid.). A 7 June 1999 press release from the Council of Khalistan reporting on these events stated that 27 Sikh activists "opposed to the Badal government [the state government of Punjab]" were arrested as the activists attempted to go to the temple to pray. Further reports of these detentions, arrests and/or subsequent charges could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Simranjit Singh Mann was elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's national legislature) in the October 1999 elections in the Sangrur constituency of Punjab State (The Tribune 7 Oct. 1999; India Map Elections n.d.). In July 2000, The Hindu reported that Mann had changed his political stance from one of supporting a separate homeland for the Sikhs to one of supporting greater autonomy for Punjab (7 July 2000).
No information further to that found in IND34468.EX of 12 June 2000 on the treatment of family members of suspected militants could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this information request.
References
Council of Khalistan. 7 June 1999. "Khalistan Leader Condemns Political Arrests by Badal Government."
The Hindu [Chennai]. 7 July 2000. "India: Mann for Autonomy, No Stress on Separate Homeland." (NEXIS)
India Map Elections. N.d. "Constituencies: Punjab: Sangrur."
The Tribune [Chandigrah]. 7 October 1999. "Big Jolt to Dal (B) in Punjab."
_____. 5 June 1999. "Mann, Other Leaders Held in Crackdown."
Additional Sources Consulted
India Country File. Resource Centre. September 1999-August 2000.
IRB Databases
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet Sites including:
Amnesty International
Burning Punjab
Frontline [New Delhi], January-September 2000
Human Rights Watch
India Abroad [New York]
Minorities at Risk, Sikhs in India
Patiala Online, Latest Punjab News, August 2000
Rediff on the Net
South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre [New Delhi]
Times of India
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
