Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale first became involved with Sikh activism in 1978, and his progressive ideas soon made him well respected by both the Sikh movements and the Indian federal government [Rao A., A. Ghose, S. Bhattacharya, T. Ahuja and N.D. Pancholi, Oppression in Punjab (International Sikh Youth Federation, 1986), p. 15-16.]. Bhindranwale came to be associated with the National Council of Khalistan in 1981, and many Sikh activists supported his militant position at the expense of the more moderate Sant Longowal [Degenhardt H.W. Revolutionary and Dissident Movements (London: Longman, 1988), p. 157-158.]. During the 1984 Golden Temple offensive, Bhindranwale retreated into the Amritsar shrine with his followers ["India: The Death of Mrs Indira Gandhi - Earlier Sikh Agitation and Military Action in Amritsar - Internal Political Developments" Keesing's Record of World Events, vol.XXX, November 1984, p. 33220-33224.]. He was killed in June 1984 by government troops [Day A.J. Political Parties of the World (Chicago and London: St. James Press, 1988), p. 264.].

In May 1986, the ban on the National Council of Khalistan was extended for a two-year period ["Extension of Ban on Two Secessionist Groups" Keesing's Record of World Events, vol.XXXII, August 1986, p. 34563.]. In September 1988, a "Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan" joined the Khalistan Commando Force and the Khalistan Liberation Force to form a united militant front to oppose the leadership of Akali Dal ["`Retreat' of Acting Head Priest of Akal Takht from Sikh Affairs - Sikh Religious Leaders' Support for Militants - Formation of a New Union of 16 Sikh Groups" Keesing's Record of World Events, vol.XXXIV, February 1988, p. 35718.]. In October 1988, members of the Bhindranwale Tigers Force claimed responsibility for the killing of ten people in New Delhi [Ibid, p. 35720.]. In March 1989, Jasbir Singh Rode, Bhindranwale's nephew, was released from prison and installed as head prist of the Golden Temple; his installation ceremony was attended by members of the Bhindranwale Tigers Force, along with other Sikh militant groups ["Release of High Priests" Keesing's Record of World Events, vol.35, no.5, p. 36691.]. Bhindranwale's objective in militantly opposing the New Delhi government was to conduct a holy war in order to protect Sikh civil rights [Mulgrew I. Unholy Terror: The Sikhs and International Terrorism (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1988), p. 71.]. No further details on the history and structure of the Bhindranwale Tigers Force are currently available at the IRBDC in Ottawa.