Reference was found to a group of armed bandits alternately referred to as the "Kachha Banyan," "Kachcha Baniyan," "Kachha Baniyan," "Kachha Banian," or "Kaccha Banian" gang operating in Haryana State (The Tribune 6 June 2000; ibid. 18 Dec. 1999; ibid. 5 Oct. 1999; ibid. 2 Nov. 1999). Kachha refers to the shorts, like longish underwear, that, along with Kesha, Kangha, Kara and Kritipan, make up "The Five K's", or "Kakkaar," which are "articles of faith" adopted by Sikhs as a "matter of discipline or uniform" (CanTeach n.d.). An 11 September 2000 article noted that the "Kachha Banyan (underwear clad) gang [are] notorious as the iron rod wielding assailants" (netGuruIndia 11 Sept. 2000).

A group of armed robbers thought to belong to the "kachha banyan" gang attacked seven Bihari labourers in Kami village in Haryana State and made off with cash and other valuables (The Hindustan Times 6 Aug. 2000; The Tribune 6 Aug. 2000). In another instance, also taking place in Haryana State, 12 armed criminals thought to belong to the "kachha banian" gang were reportedly responsible for an attack on a temple near Kariaki village (The Tribune 5 Oct. 1999). The attack resulted in the death of four people, including a sadhu, and the serious injury of three others (ibid). As well, a 18 December 1999 article reported that armed youths believed to be of the "kachha banian" gang had struck at three places in the Balabgarh Subdivision of Faridabad, Haryana State injuring at least six persons and stealing cash and other valuables (The Tribune). This instance also involved an attack on a temple that resulted in the serious injury of a pujari [priest] who was left for dead (ibid). Two people were killed during an armed house robbery in Faridabad District, Haryana State which was reportedly carried out by assailants wearing "kachhas and baniyans" (The Tribune 6 June 1999).

Few references to Kachha Banian activities in Uttar Pradesh could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, a 12 June 2000 article reported that "seven persons of Kachcha Baniyan gang armed with knives, lathis and iron rods" had murdered two people and injured five others during a house robbery on the outskirts of Ghaziabad village in Uttar Pradesh (The Hindustan Times 12 June 2000). A 5 April 2000 article noted that four arrested members of a Kachha Banian gang were from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh and that they were responsible for at least 20 murders and a large number of gang robberies carried out in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (The Tribune). Witnesses to the armed house burglary in Faridabad District, Haryana State - referred to in the previous paragraph - had reported hearing the assailants speaking a dialect of Uttar Pradesh (UP) (The Tribune 6 June 2000). As well, a 29 November 1999 article reported that police in Rohtak zone, Haryana State believed that two major cases of crime involving several murders had been committed by members of the "kachha banian" gang, described as a "nomadic tribe with origins in UP" (The Tribune).

No reference to any actions the group may have directed against Sikhs in particular, or to the group's views regarding Sikhs, 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 find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

CanTeach. n.d. "The Sikh Turban and the Five K's." http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/sikhism8.html [Accessed 3 August 2001]

The Hindustan Times [New Delhi, in English]. 6 August 2000. "Armed Robbers Attack 7 Bihari Labourers, Flee with Rs 14,000." http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/060800/detCIT23.htm [Accessed 10 August 2001]

_____. 12 June 2000. "Robbers Kill Two of a Family in Ghaziabad." [Accessed 10 August 2001]

netGuruIndia. 11 September 2000. "One Killed in Petrol Robbery." http://www.netguruindia.com/news/Sept00/11/DEL3.html [Accessed 10 August 2001

The Tribune [Chandigarh, in English]. 6 August 2000. "7 Labourers Hurt in Assault." http://www.tribuneindia.com/20000806/haryana.htm [Accessed 9 August 2001]

_____. 6 June 2000. "Marauders Kill 2, Injure Four." http://www.tribuneindia.com/20000606/haryana.htm#6 [Accessed 3 August 2001]

_____. 5 April 2000. "Criminal Gang Busted." http://tribuneindia.com/20000405/haryana.htm. [Accessed 9 August 2001]

_____. 18 December 1999. "Armed Youths Rob, Hurt 6." http://www.tribuneindia.com/99dec18/haryana.htm [Accessed 3 August 2001]

_____. 29 November 1999. "'Kachha Banian' Gangsters Held." http:/tribuneindia.com/99nov29/haryana.htm [Accessed 9 August 2001]

_____. 2 November 1999. "5 Gangsters Arrested." http://tribuneindia.com/99nov02/haryana.htm [Accessed 3 August 2001]

_____. 5 October 1999. "Temple Attacked, Sadhu 3 Other Killed." http://www.tribuneindia.com/99oct5/haryana.htm#6 [Accessed 3 August 2001]

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Resource Centre. Country File, 1998-

World News Connection

Internet sites, including:

BBC

Human Rights Watch

International Relations and Security Network

IndiaMap

IndiaMonitor

Indian Mirror

Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

Rediff

Sikhnet

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre

South Asian Terrorism Portal

Times of India