For reports on the legal and human rights situation in Punjab in 1996, please see the attached reports.

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.

Asian Survey [Berkeley]. April 1996, Vol. 36, No. 4. Gurharpal Singh. "Punjab Since 1984: Disorder, Order, and Legitimacy," pp. 410-421.

The Associated Press (AP). 23 July 1996. Krishnan Guruswamy. "Federal Police Have Told India's Supreme Court...." (NEXIS)

The Hindu Online [Delhi]. 20 January 1996. Ravi Sidhu. "Punjab Police to Review Security System." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 6 Feb. 1996, Vol. 11, No. 4)

India Abroad [Toronto]. 9 August 1996. "Punjab: Prosecution of Nine Policemen Ordered." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 27 Aug. 1996, Vol. 12, No. 7)2

_____. 14 June 1996. Harbaksh Singh Nanda. "Punjab Comes Long Way from Bullets to Ballots." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 3 July 1996, Vol. 11, No. 25)

_____. 19 April 1996. Sanjay Suri. "Sikhs Face Choice: Moderate or Extremist." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 23 Apr. 1996, Vol. 11, No. 15)

_____. 2 February 1996. Niraj Trivedi. "Delhi: Ex-Minister Arrested in Anti-Sikh Riots Case." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 20 Feb. 1996, Vol. 11, No. 6)

India Today [Delhi]. 31 August 1996. Ramesh Vinayak. "Costly Misconduct: The Conviction of a Supercop Turns the Spotlight on Sexual-Harassment Offences," pp. 100-101.

_____. 15 April 1996. N.K. Singh. "Parkash Singh Badal: Broadening His Base: The Akali Leader Has United Factions and Galvanised His Party to Face the Challenge." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 23 Apr. 1996, Vol. 11, No. 15)

_____. 31 March 1996. R. Vinayak. "Middle-of-the-Roaders: Akali Leaders Forge a Moderate Agenda." (DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa], 2 Apr. 1996, Vol. 11, No. 12)

Reuters. 25 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Indian Police to Cooperate in Cremation Probe." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 April 1996. BC Cycle. "Indian Police Arrest Two Alleged Sikh Militants." (NEXIS)

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 1 September 1996. "'Make' Police as Free as Judiciary," p. 4.

_____. 27 August 1996. "Scheme to Promote Tourism in Punjab," p. 5.

_____. 18 August 1996. "'Police Tortured Students'."

_____. 17 August 1996. "Psychopaths All?"

_____. 17 August 1996. Belu Maheshwari. "Excess in the Time of Terror."

_____. 12 August 1996. "Partisan Cops Beat Woman."

The United Press International (UPI). 23 February 1996. BC Cycle. "Indian Police Charged with Torture." (NEXIS

_____. 29 January 1996. BC Cycle. "Indian Court Orders Police Abuse Trial." (NEXIS)