All-India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF) President Bhai Manjit Singh was arrested at his home in Amritsar on 24 June 1990 (Reuters 24 June 1990). Earlier that month, police poured into Amritsar "to prevent protests on the anniversary of India's invasion of Sikhdom's sacred Golden Temple" (Reuters 6 June 1990). On this occasion, police arrested leaders of the AISSF, Sikh members of parliament and militants (Ibid.; AFP 5 June 1990).

Information on Manjit Singh's length of detention after his arrest in June 1990 is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa. A June 1991 article, quoting his AISSF faction, indicated that "Mr. Manjit Singh has spent time in prison for espousing the separatist cause," without specifying the duration of imprisonment (AFP 25 June 1991). A September 1991 report quotes Manjit Singh making a declaration in Amritsar on the proposed Punjab elections, thus suggesting that he was free at that time (AFP 18 Sept. 1991). Singh made other declarations to reporters in December 1991 (AFP 11 Dec. 1991). In February 1992, Manjit Singh and other AISSF members tried to organize a pro-boycott rally in Ludhiana to protest against elections in the Punjab (The Hindu 8 Feb. 1992). Again in February 1992, he told reporters that militants would accept a "partial independence" from the Indian federation (AFP 13 Feb. 1992).

Please note that a different Sikh man also named Manjit Singh, presumed mastermind of the June 1985 Air India crash, was recently arrested according to one source (Asiaweek 14 Aug. 1992, 31; Ibid. 31 July 1992, 33).

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 13 February 1992. Marie-France Rouze. "Les militants sikhs ont la haute main sur les élections au Pendjab." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 December 1991. "Sikh Group to Attend New Delhi Meet; 16 Die in Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 September 1991. "Elections in Punjab Announced, 15 More Killed." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 June 1991. "Punjab Violence Leaves 17 More Dead." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 June 1990. "Sikh Leaders Arrested in Punjab Police Crackdown." (FBIS-NES-90-109)

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 14 August 1992. "Hits and Misses," p. 31.

_____. 31 July 1992. "Passage," p. 33.

The Hindu [Madras]. 8 February 1992. "Govt. Blocks Pro-Boycott Rally in Ludhiana."

Reuters. 24 June 1990. "Punjab Student Leader Held, 18 Killed in Separatist Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 June 1990. "India Mounts Show of Force on Golden Temple Anniversary." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 13 February 1992. Marie-France Rouze. "Les militants sikhs ont la haute main sur les élections au Pendjab." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 December 1991. "Sikh Group to Attend New Delhi Meet; 16 Die in Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 September 1991. "Elections in Punjab Announced, 15 More Killed." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 June 1991. "Punjab Violence Leaves 17 More Dead." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 June 1990. "Sikh Leaders Arrested in Punjab Police Crackdown." (FBIS-NES-90-109)

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 14 August 1992. "Hits and Misses," p. 31.

_____. 31 July 1992. "Passage," p. 33.

The Hindu [Madras]. 8 February 1992. "Govt. Blocks Pro-Boycott Rally in Ludhiana."

Reuters. 24 June 1990. "Punjab Student Leader Held, 18 Killed in Separatist Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 June 1990. "India Mounts Show of Force on Golden Temple Anniversary." (NEXIS)