Information on Mann Singh Sidhu, Maninder Singh Gill, Harpal Singh Gosal, Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and Kashmir Singh is scarce among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Maan Singh Sidhu, allegedly a member of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) was deported by Canada to India under police escort on 11 September 1995 (The Toronto Sun 15 Jan. 1995). Information on his treatment by the authorities/police following his return could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Information on Maninder Singh Gill could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Canadian Harpal Singh Gosal disappeared on 31 December 1994 in Phagwara, Punjab, allegedly forced into a van by police officers (The Toronto Star 25 Jan. 1995; Canada Newswire 9 Jan. 1995). According to The Toronto Star, he was arrested on 19 January 1995 and detained in Patiala under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the Arms Act and the Foreigners Registration Act (25 Jan. 1995 ; ibid. 26 Jan. 1995). According to Indian authorities, Gosal was allegedly carrying explosives when he was arrested (ibid.). Information on whether Gosal is still in Patiala jail, on his present situation and on whether he received assistance from the Canadian authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

According to the All-India Doordarshan Television, Devinderpaul Singh, alias Deepak, was arrested by police at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on 19 January 1995 and interrogated (20 Jan. 1995). Agence France Presse (AFP) reports the 19 January 1995 arrest of Deepak, a "de facto" chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), upon his return from Frankfurt, Germany (20 Jan. 1995). India Worldwide reports that Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, "an activist and fund-raiser," was arrested by Indian police upon his return from Germany (31 Oct. 1995). More current information on Devinderpal Singh Bhullar could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Information on Kashmir Singh could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 January 1995. "Indian Police Arrest Top Sikh Militant." (NEXIS)

All-India Doordarshan Television [New Delhi, in English]. 20 January 1995. "Foreign Relations; Arrested Punjabi Militant Planned to Recruit in Europe." (BBC Summary 23 Jan. 1995/NEXIS)

Canada NewsWire. 9 January 1995. "The Following is a Release from Friends & Family for the Release of Harpal Singh Gosal." (NEXIS)

India Worldwide. 31 October 1995. M.K. Kothari. "Politics: Punjab Terrorists Shifting Gears." (The Ethnic NewsWatch 31 Oct. 1995/NEXIS)

The Toronto Star. 26 January 1995. Final Edition. Philip Mascoll. "India Holds Rexdale Man Under Anti-Terrorist Laws Explosives Said to Have Been Found on Him." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 January 1995. Final Edition. "Rexdale Man Held Under Terrorist Law." (NEXIS)

The Toronto Sun. 15 January 1995. Final Edition. Tom Godfrey. "Alleged Terrorist Deported; Sikh Man Shipped Home Under Police Guard." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 January 1995. "Indian Police Arrest Top Sikh Militant." (NEXIS)

All-India Doordarshan Television [New Delhi, in English]. 20 January 1995. "Foreign Relations; Arrested Punjabi Militant Planned to Recruit in Europe." (BBC Summary 23 Jan. 1995/NEXIS)

The Toronto Star. 26 January 1995. Final Edition. Philip Mascoll. "India Holds Rexdale Man Under Anti-Terrorist Laws Explosives Said to Have Been Found on Him." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 January 1995. Final Edition. "Rexdale Man Held Under Terrorist Law." (NEXIS)

The Toronto Sun. 15 January 1995. Final Edition. Tom Godfrey. "Alleged Terrorist Deported; Sikh Man Shipped Home Under Police Guard." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International. August 1995.

India: Deaths in Custody 1994.

_____. May 1995.

India: Punjab Police: Beyond the Bounds of the Law.

Amnesty International Report. Yearly. 1995, 1996.
DIRB. February 1996.

India: Sikhs in Punjab 1994-95.

_____. Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. Weekly. October 1994-December 1995.

_____. "India" country file. October 1994-December 1995, January 1997-present.

_____. "India: Amnesty International" country file. October 1994-present.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. (WNC)

Search on the World Wide Web.

SHARENet database.

Transcript of a conference call with Navkiran Singh. 1 September 1995.

On-line search of media sources.