On 31 October 1984 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards (The New York Times 15 Nov. 1984; AP 2 Mar. 1985; The Washington Post 15 Nov. 1984).). The night of her assassination, Sikh security commando Jagtar Singh, a member of Indira Gandhi's security detail, was arrested for carrying live ammunition while off duty, a criminal offense (AP 2 Mar. 1985; The Washington Post 15 Nov. 1984). Following interrogation, charges against Singh were broadened to include participation in the assassination (The New York Times 15 Nov. 1984; The Washington Post 15 Nov. 1984). M.S. Atwal, Mr. Singh's defence attorney alleged however, that his client had been arrested on false charges because he was a friend and neighbour of Satwant Singh, one of the alleged assassins (ibid.; The New York Times 15 Nov. 1984).

On 15 November 1984 Judge O.P. Gogne rejected Singh's application for bail due to the government prosecutor's assertion that Singh was involved in the assassination and that he would likely abscond if released on bail (ibid.; The Washington Post 15 Nov. 1984).

On 2 March 1985 the Associated Press (AP) reported that Jagtar Singh had been found guilty of violating a section of the National Arms Act and sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labour. Three other Sikh men were charged with criminal conspiracy in the assassination (AP 2 Mar. 1985).

More recent and/or detailed information on Jagtar Singh could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

For general information on the 31 October 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi, please consult Response to Information Request IND26042.E of 27 January 1997, available at Regional Documentation Centres.

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.

The Associated Press (AP). 2 March 1985. AM Cycle. "A Sikh security commando has been sentenced to one year... ." (NEXIS)

The New York Times. 15 November 1984. Late City Final Edition. "India Holds Security Aid to Indira Gandhi in Conspiracy Inquiry." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 15 November 1984. Final Edition. Correction Appended. "3rd Sikh Held in Gandhi Death; Guard Said to Share Room with One of the Accused in Killing." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International Report 1986. 1986.
Bains, Justice Ajit Singh. August 1988.

Siege of the Sikhs: Violation of Human Rights in Punjab.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. 1985, 1986.

Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1985. 1986.

La Grande Encyclopedie du Monde. 1989.

Human Rights Watch Annual Report 1987. 1987.

Jaijee, Inderjit Singh. 1995. Politics of Genocide: Punjab 1984-1994.
Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley. 1996.

Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants.

Unholy Terror: The Sikhs and International Terrorism.

The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1989.
Singh, Patwant and Harji Malik (ed.). 1985.

Punjab: The Fatal Miscalculation.

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS.