The Damdami Taksal was founded by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and is composed of reportedly integrist Sikhs (Heiniger and Linow, p.42). The spirit and statements of the late Sant Bhindranwale now guide the Damdami Taksal militants (K.K. Sharma, 13 December 1989, p.4).

After a month of violence in March 1988, Damdami Taksal leaders, along with other Sikh militants, expressed their concern over renewed killings ("India: Government"; "India; A Gleam"). In May 1988, the Damdami Taksal served as a mediator between Sikh gunmen in Amritsar and the government (Ravi Sharma). In December 1989, a resolution on the reiteration of the Sikh goal to establish an independent "Khalistan" was adopted by the Akali Dal (Mann), the All-India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF) and the Damdami Taksal ("Sikh Party"). In January 1990, the assassination of a AISSF leader was apparently linked to power struggle with the Damdami Taksal (K.K. Sharma, 25 January 1990, p.4).

No further information on the more recent activities of the Damdami Taksal is currently available to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Heiniger, Christine and Klaus Linow

Inde, Lausanne: Office central suisse d'aide aux réfugiés, August 1988, 50 pages.

«India; A Gleam of Light in Darkest Punjab», The Economist [London], 9 April 1988, p.38.

«India: Government Denies Responsibility for Punjab Violence», Inter Press Service, 5 April 1988.
Sharma, K.K.

"Disarming Approach by V.P. Singh Calms Punjab Gunmen", The Financial Times, 13 December 1989, p.4.
Sharma, K.K.

"Murder of Sikh Hardliner Complicates Punjab Issue", The Financial Times, 24 January 1990, p.4.
Sharma, Ravi

«Police Kill Five People at Golden Temple», United Press International, 13 May 1988.

"Sikh Party Wants "Autonomous Region" in India", The Xinhua General Overseas News Service [China], 11 December 1989.