* The Shiromani Akali Dal is a moderate Sikh party founded in 1920. The Shiromani Akali Dal opposes Indian government intervention in Sikh affairs, and believes in autonomy for all states. [Europa Year Book 1988, (London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1988), p. 1350.] It has approximately one million members. [Europa, 1988, p. 1350.] In the early eighties, the legally recognized Shiromani Akali Dal was led by Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, and thus is designated the Akali Dal (L). A faction under the leadership of Jagdev Singh Talwandi broke off prior to the Golden Temple incident of 1984, and is known as the Akali Dal (T) faction. In 1985, Baba Joginder Singh (the father of Sant Bhindranwale of the Damdami Taksal who was killed in the battle between Sikh militants and the Indian Army at the Golden Temple in June 1984) formed the United Akali Dal (absorbing the Akali Dal (T)), and in 1986, another faction, under the leadership of Prakash Singh Badal, broke away from the Shiromani Akali Dal to form the Akali Dal (B).

In 1987, these two latter factions merged to form the Unified Akali Dal under the leadership of Simranjit Singh Mann.
This merger was apparently unsuccessful, but the remnants of this faction are now known as the Akali Dal (Mann - M) or the Unified Akali Dal (M). The leader of the Unified Akali Dal (M), is Simranjit Singh Mann, but because he is in prison, a seven-member presidium, including Baba Joginder Singh, leads the (Unified) Akali Dal (M) faction. ["On a Collision Course", India Today, 15 April 1989, p. 58.]

Elections to the state assembly were held in the Punjab in September 1985, at which time the Akali Dal (L) party gained 73 of the 117 seats, and formed the state government. [ Keesing's, November 1985, p. 33986.] Surjit Singh Barnala, the leader of the Akali Dal (L) became the Chief Minister. The Congress (I) Party (Rajiv Gandhi's party) only gained 32 seats. When Badala created the Akali Dal (B), he took 27 members of the Legislative Assembly with him, leaving 46 with the Akali Dal (L) under Barnala. [Keesing's, August 1986, p. 34563.] Barnala still retained the largest group in the 117 member assembly.
*

The Golden Temple: Sant Bhindranwale was head of the Damdami Taksal and leader of more militant members of the Akali Dal during the Indian army action against Sikh extremists at the Golden Temple in June 1984. His body was found in the Temple following the battle. Sant Longowal, the leader of the moderate Akali Dal, was assassinated 20 August 1985, after he had signed an agreement with Rajiv Gandhi. Information on the number of Sikh militants involved in the Golden Temple incident in June 1984 is not available to the IRBDC at this time. Statistics published by the Indian government in October 1984 put the number of dead (including military personnel) at approximately 1000. [ Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1985, p. 210.]
*

The Congress (I) Party is the current ruling party in India, and Rajiv Gandhi is its leader.
*

Following the arrest of Sant Longowal, Mr. Tohra, Harminder Singh Sandhu, Prakash Singh Badal, and Surjit Singh Barnala, in the second week of June 1984, over 300 demonstrators led by Amarinder Singh were arrested on 29 July in Patiala on their way to Amritsar. [ Keesing's, Record of World Events, November 1984, p. 33223 (attached).] Details on where they were held are not available to the IRBDC at this time, however, the town of Jullundur is on the way to Amritsar from Patiala.
*

On 11 May 1987, the central government imposed President's (Direct) Rule in the Punjab, dismissing the state government 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 in approximately 70,000 paramilitary personnel for the massive security operation, and by 13 May, the government had arrested "at least 450 suspected Sikh militants, including members of militant Sikh student groups." ["Indian Government holds hundreds of suspects in Punjab crackdown", Globe and Mail, 15 May 1987, p. A10.]
*

No information on elections in the Punjab during December 1986 or November/December 1987 is presently available to the IRBDC-Ottawa. Given the imposition of President's Rule in May 1987, and the level of violence in the Punjab, it is possible that village elections were postponed. An article by Bryan Johnson, entitled "Democracy harmed by harsh laws and Punjabi terrorism, group says", (Globe and Mail, 26 November 1987) specifically discusses the lack of political solutions and democracy under the anti-terrorist laws restricting political life in the Punjab in late 1987. The Indian government has taken steps in recent months to address the problem of excessive police powers in the Punjab, and is modifying political restriction in preparation for general elections due by the end of the year. In an article in the Globe and Mail dated 11 May 1989, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced his intention to grant wider power to the panchayats, or village councils. ["Around the World", Globe and Mail, 11 May 1989.]
*

No information on a murder in the village of Ghuman is available to the IRBDC at this time. Two reports involving security forces and Punjab "terrorists" for the period January 27 to February 15th from the Foreign Broadcast Information Service are attached. ["4 Punjab `Terrorists' Killed in Encounters", FBIS Daily Report, 30 January 1989, p. 65; "15 `Terrorists' Arrested", 13 February 1989, p. 66.]
*

Information on police activities in the Punjab, and Amnesty International reports regarding the detainees from the Golden Temple incident of June 1984 is included.
Please see the following attachments:

"Around the World", Globe and Mail, 11 May 1989.

"On a Collision Course", India Today, 15 April 1989.

"Encouraging Signals", India Today, 31 March 1989.

"Widening the Web", India Today, 30 April 1989.

"Harbinger of Peace", The Illustrated Weekly of India, 29 May 1989.

"Delhi's Diktat", Far Eastern Economic Review, 6 April 1989.

"Akali Dal-Mann Rejects Merger", F.B.I.S. Daily Report, Near East & South Asia, 15 March 1989

"2 People Killed, 9 `Terrorists' Arrested in Punjab", F.B.I.S. Daily Report, Near East & South Asia, 13 February 1989.

"4 Punjab `Terrorists' Killed in Encounters", F.B.I.S. Daily Report, Near East & South Asia, 30 January 1989.

"Murders drop in Punjab", Globe and Mail, 17 September 1986.

Amnesty International, Indian Government must act to stop Unlawful Killings and Torture by Police and Security Forces, Amnesty International says, AI Index: ASA 20/07/88, 10 August 1988.

Amnesty International, Disappearance/ Fear of Torture, AI Index: ASA 20/06/89, 5 May 1989.

Amnesty International, The Need to Review Cases Against 324 Sikhsheld for more than Four Years in Jodhpur Jail, Rajasthan: Update, AI Index: ASA 20/10/88, October 1988.

Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXX, November 1984, pp.33220-33224; Volume XXXI, November 1985,
pp. 33986-33988; Volume XXXII, August 1986, pp. 34560-34564; Volume XXXIII, July 1987, pp. 35247-35250; Volume XXXIV, February 1988, pp.35718-35720.

Times Newspapers Ltd. (on-line search); 14 April 1988; 24 July 1986; 24 March 1986; 28 September 1985; 23 September 1985; 2 September 1985.

"Indian Rights Group Says Police Abuse Sikhs", The New York Times, 26 February 1989.

"A Distant Peace", Far Eastern Economic Review, 16 March 1989.

"Indian Government hold hundreds of suspects in Punjab crackdown", Globe and Mail, 15 May 1987.

"Democracy harmed by harsh laws and Punjabi terrorism, group says", Globe and Mail, 26 November 1987.

"Rights Group Links India to Moslem Deaths", New York Times, 22 November 1987.

"Punjab Punch", The Economist, 30 August 1986.

"Police in Punjab routinely murder Sikh extremists, hearing is told", The Toronto Star, 17 September 1986.
1920

Shiromani Akali Dal
1984

AD-L (Longowal) AD-T (Talwandi)
1 May 1985

AD-L + AD-T = United Akali Dal (UAD, Joginder Singh)
22 May 1985

Longowal stays AD-L (Longowal); UAD (Joginder Singh)
20 August 1985

Longowal assassinated; AD-L (Surjit Singh Barnala) following agreement with Rajiv Gandhi
8 May 1986

AD-L splits into AD-L (Barnala) + AD-B (Prakash Singh Badal)(46 members in government)(27 members)
1987 groups:

AD-L (Barnala); AD-B (Badal); UAD (Joginder Singh)
5 February 1987

AD-B + UAD (Joginder) = Unified Akali Dal (Simranjit Singh Mann) AD-L (Barnala); UAD-M (Mann)

15 March 1989 three groups:

(Shiromani) Akali Dal-L

(Surjit Singh Barnala); Unified Akali Dal-(Mann)

(Joginder Singh acting head); United Akali Dal (Jagdev Singh Talwandi)
An attempt to unite the three groups under Talwandi was not successful in April. ["On a Collision Course", India Today, 15 April 1989, p. 58.]