No information on violence towards Sikhs by Shiv Sena members in Patiala, Punjab, or on whether Shiv Sena members would recruit Sikh Tabla players to perform in a religious procession could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

An April 2001 article, reporting on the organization's bid to have a liquor shop moved to an alternative place, named Sanjay Kumar as the senior city vice-president of the Patiala unit of the Punjab Shiv Sena (Thackery) (The Tribune 20 April 2001).

No further references to the names of Shiv Sena members in Patiala, Punjab, could be found among 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.

Reference

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 20 April 2001. "Regional Briefs: Patiala." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010420/region.htm [Accessed 31 Mar. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

Internet sites, inlcuding:

The Deccan Herald

The Hindu

The Indian Express

Punjabilok

Rediff.com

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC)

The Times of India

The Tribune

World News Connection

Search engine:

Google