"Caste wars have become a fairly regular feature in Gujarat." [ Ravi Nair and David Bergman, State Terrorism in Punjab, An Investigative Report, (London: India Information Centre, January 1989), p.1.] In early 1985, inter-caste violence within the Hindu community began over an increase in the number of places reserved for members of certain castes in employment and higher education. [ Keesing's Record of World Events, Essex: Longman, Volume XXXII, February 1986, p. 34173.] Although the inter-caste violence initially involved only the Hindu community, the Muslim community was "soon caught up in the disturbances", and in May and June (1985) a number of people died in Hindu-Muslim fighting. [ Keesing's, Volume XXXII, p. 34174.] The undercurrent of Hindu-Muslim tension has spawned demonstrations, riots and violence for many years. The attached articles deal with the specific time period between 1985 and 1986.

In July 1986, sectarian fighting between Hindus and Muslims left more than 49 dead in five days of fighting. [ "Indian Police Fire at Mobs as Sectarian Strife Escalates", The Globe and Mail, 15 July 1986.] Muslim and Hindu rioters set fire to buildings and some Muslims were also burned alive in Ahmedabad. [ "Moslems Burned Alive in Sectarian Violence", The Globe and Mail, 14 July 1986.] Ahmedabad has a history of Hindu-Muslim violence. The Hindu population has been involved in intercommunal fighting in other parts of India as well, in particular, many of the attached news reports discuss the mounting tensions between Sikh militants and Hindus in Punjab state.
Please consult the attached reports:
-

Keesing's Record of World Events, Essex: Longman, Volume XXXII, February 1986, pp. 34173-174;
-

"Indian Police Fire at Mobs as Sectarian Strife Escalates", The Globe and Mail, 15 July 1986;
-

"Moslems Burned Alive in Sectarian Violence", The Globe and Mail, 14 July 1986;
-

"India's Sectarian Nightmare", South, October 1986;
-

"Curfew in Force, 800 Arrested in Indian Religious Violence", The Ottawa Citizen, 28 July 1986;
-

"Muslim Militants Stir up Kashmir", Times of London, 29 October 1986;
-

Steven Weisman, "No End in Sight to Sikh-Hindu Strife", The New York Times, 3 August 1986;
-

"Hindu Families Moving Out of Punjab, Villagers Fear Attacks by Sikh Extremists", The Globe and Mail, 25 June 1986;
-

"Inde: Manifestations", Le Devoir, 17 Juin 1986;
-

Michael Hamlyn, ""Fearful Hindus Dress as Sikhs to Fend off Punjab Violence", The Times of London, 9 June 1986;
-

Steven Weisman, "Hindu Revivalism Makes for Moslem Anxiety", The New York Times, 2 March 1986;
-

"Hindu-Moslem Strife Leads to 135 Arrests", The Globe and Mail, 15 February 1986;
-

Eric Silver, "Division Between Sikhs, Hindus Casts Shadow Over India", The Ottawa Citizen, 17 December 1986;
-

Steven Weisman, "A Massacre Tears Open Old Wounds in India", The New York Times, 7 December 1986;
-

"Massacre in Punjab Sparks Riot By Hindus", The Globe and Mail, 3 December 1986.

28 December 1989

1989/12/00eSubject:

Punjab:Percentage of Punjab police force that is Sikh.
From:

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, Ottawa
Keywords:

crime / police / religious groups / Sikhs / statistical data / India

Although information on the religious or ethnic makeup of the Punjab Police force was not obtainable through official channels, one article alluding to the question was found. In "Punjab Punch", the India correspondent for The Economist states that the Punjab police are 95 percent Sikh (and the central government's armed police mostly Hindus). Please refer to the attachment:
-

"Punjab Punch", The Economist, 30 August 1986.
No further corroboration is currently available to the IRBDC.

11 December 1989

1989/12/00eSubject:

India:1. Statistics regarding the ethnic and religious makeup of the Punjabi Police force, specifically the ratio of Sikh members. 2.Treatment of Sikhs by police in Punjab.
From:

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, Ottawa
Keywords:

crime / police / religious groups / Sikhs / statistical data / political control / state of emergency / human rights / human rights violations / India
1.

Statistics on the ethnic makeup of the Punjabi Police force are not currently available to the IRBDC. The present Director General, K.P.S. Gill, is a Sikh. References to police officers do not state their ethnic or religious affiliations.
2.

A number of the attached articles highlighting police actions in the Punjab in 1986 demonstrate an escalation in the level of violence following the declaration of the Sikh independent state of Khalistan. References to "encounters" between Sikh extremists and police [ Brian McAndrew, "Police in Punjab Routinely Murder Sikh Extremists, Hearing is Told", The Toronto Star, 17 September 1986.] as well as to the "hit lists" (most-wanted and secondary) prepared under Director General Julio Ribeiro [ "Murders Drop in Punjab", The Globe and Mail, 17 September 1986.] indicate a strong stance by police attempting to curb Sikh extremist operations. For example, shortly after his appointment Ribeiro stated that "Death is an occupational hazard for a Punjab policeman. But if you die at least four lives should be taken in return." [ "New Chief in Punjab Vows to Take 4 Lives for each Slain Officer", The Globe and Mail, 10 April 1986.] Amnesty International also received reports that Sikh activists have been killed in "fake encounters staged by the police or paramilitary forces" including extrajudicial killings of Sikh militants by Border Security Forces. [ Amnesty International, Report 1987, p. 231.]

The following information details some of the major developments in the relations between the authorities and the Sikh population in the Punjab between 1987 and 1989.

On 11 May 1987, the central government imposed President's (Direct) Rule in the Punjab, dismissing the state government (Sikh-dominated) and appointing Siddharta Shankar Ray as state governor. [ Shankar was appointed governor 1 April 1987.] (President's Rule had previously been in effect in the Punjab from October 1983 to September 1985.) [ Keesing's, July 1987, p. 335247.] The government brought approximately 70,000 paramilitary personnel into Punjab for the massive security operation, and by 13 May, the government had arrested at least 450 suspected Sikh militants. [ "Indian Government holds hundreds of suspects in Punjab crackdown", Globe and Mail, 15 May 1987, p. A10.] According to official figures, there were 1246 deaths - including the death of 97 policemen - linked to the Sikh secessionist movement in the Punjab in 1987. [ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXIV, February 1988, p. 35718.]

Until March 1989, the National Security Act allowed police in the Punjab to detain people without charge or trial for a period of two years. When the Indian army attacked the Golden Temple in June 1984, they detained up to 1500 people, and at the end of 1987, 366 Sikhs were still held without charge in Jodhpur Jail. [ Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1987, (London:Amnesty International Publications, 1987), p. 230.] Sixty of the 366 detainees had allegedly been tortured while held in Ladha Kothi jail prior to transfer to Jodhpur in 1984. [ Ibid.] On 6 March 1989, the Indian government released the last 188 of the 366 Sikhs jailed in 1984, but rearrested 84 immediately, allegedly for things they had done prior to the Golden Temple incident. [ "If it were 1986," The Economist, 11 March 1989, p. 38.]

In March 1989, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made a number of changes to limit police and Army powers in the Punjab, including restricting the use of the Punjab Disturbed Areas Act, and withdrawing the special amendment to the National Security Act which permitted detention of prisoners in the Punjab for up to two years without review. [ "Punjab: Encouraging Signals", India Today, 31 March 1989,
pp. 28-9.] One report in March 1989 stated that an average of 11 people were "being gunned down" every day in the Punjab. [ "Punjab: Encouraging Signals", India Today, 31 March 1989, p. 29.] By June 1989, it was estimated that more than 3147 people had died caught between the violence of terrorist groups and government enforcement agencies in the battle for Khalistan. [ "Red Badges of Courage", India Today, 30 June 1989, p. 62.]
Attachments:
-

Brian McAndrew, "Police in Punjab Routinely Murder Sikh Extremists, Hearing is Told,", The Toronto Star, 17 September 1986;
-

Michael Hamlyn, "First Peace Signs in Punjab Begin with Police Reform", Times of London, 18 April 1986;
-

"Sikh Temple Stormed, 150 Reported Arrested", The Globe and Mail, 1 May 1986;
-

"New Chief in Punjab Vows to Take 4 Lives for each Slain Officer", New York Times and The Globe and Mail, 10 April 1986;
-

"Sikh Leader Shot Dead by Police", The Globe and Mail, 23 June 1986;
-

"Murders Drop in Punjab", The Globe and Mail, 17 September 1986;
-

"Police Intercept Rampaging Sikh Gang", The Globe and Mail, 5 July 1986;
-

"6 Policemen Slain in Punjab as Gunmen Free 3 Sikh Prisoners", The New York Times, 6 April 1986;
-

"Sikhs Dressed as Police Kill 9 Hindus in Punjab", The Globe and Mail, 29 March 1986.