Information on the above-mentioned subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. An anthropology professor at the University of Maine at Orono who has written extensively on Sikh politics and culture stated that it is not uncommon for leaders of Sikh militant groups to disappear (30 Sept. 1994). The professor stated that her work has acquainted her with many Sikh organizations, and if there had been such a Sikh leader, she would have known about it (ibid.). The professor also explained that it is difficult to keep track of Sikh militant leaders because they use aliases to hide their true identities from the Punjab and Indian police. The DIRB is unable to corroborate this information at the present time.

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.

Professor of anthropology specializing in Sikh history, culture and politics, University of Maine, Orono. 30 September 1994. Telephone interview.

Amnesty International file (India).

Country file (India).

Keesing's Record of World Events. Yearly.

Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. Weekly.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR).

News from Asia Watch [New York]. Monthly.

On-line searches of news articles.

Oral sources.