5 Punjab extremists posed an extremely grave threat to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. The efforts of these elements to cause harm to him were consistent, determined, overt, persistent and pervasive. It is seen that threat to Rajiv Gandhi came as much from the Punjab extremists operating in India as from those based in various foreign countries of the world. The links of these extremists with their counterparts in Pakistan and the dubious role of the Intelligence and Security Agencies of Pakistan added a new dimension to the security perception. Threat perception assessments made by the Indian Intelligence Agencies disclose that the hostility of the Sikh extremist and secessionist elements towards Shri. Rajiv Gandhi began even before he became the Prime Minister and continued even after he ceased to hold the office of the Prime Minister. This shows that the threat perception to the security of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi was not linked only to the position he held as Prime Minister but was much more deep rooted and endemic.

5.1 The genesis of the hostility of Sikh extremist elements towards the Gandhi family in general and Shri. Rajiv Gandhi in particular has been dealt with earlier. In this context, a field report of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, Chandigarh, also becomes relevant. In this report, the animus of the Sikh extremists towards the Gandhi family has been reiterated. The repeated emphasis on this aspect of the threat to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi by various units of the Intelligence Bureau goes to show that one of the major underlying factors of the theme of animosity of the hostile Sikh elements towards Shri. Rajiv Gandhi was that he was the son of Smt. Indira Gandhi and was an endorser of her decisions which were perceived to be anti Sikh. The report of the SIB, Chandigarh, which was furnished soon after the defeat of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi in the General elections of 1989, inter-alia, states that :-

(Teleprinter Message No3676 dated 12.12.89 from CREMO Chandigarh to CRIMINARE New Delhi)(Annexure T-35)

"....It is well known that Shri Rajiv Gandhi former Prime Minister and his family member have been under consistent and almost perpetual threat from the Sikh extremists(.)

The Akali Dal which has been the Principal Sikh Political Party in Punjab, has maintained over the years a campaign against the Centre through morchas(.) It was in the early 1980's that the Sikh militants working under the banner of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale joined such anti Centre campaigns(.) However, until then such campaigns were not personalised and only constituted a political effort to upstage the Congress (I) at the Centre. The complexion of this, however, changed in the wake of Operation Blue Star with widespread propagation of their involvement that late Smt. Indira Gandhi was personally responsible for desecration of the Golden Temple Complex (.)

Her assassination brought into sharp focus the extent of resentment among alienated sikhs against the Gandhi family(.) The Anti-Sikh riots that followed alleged justification of the same by Shri Rajiv Gandhi and retention of the Union Cabinet /other positions of authority of persons who were alleged to have played an active role in the above riots were all taken by the militants as indicators of Anti-Sikh attitude of Shri.Rajiv Gandhi(.) The hanging of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh had only consolidated this perception(.)

Shri. Rajiv Gandhi and his family during the former's tenure as the Prime Minister had continued receiving threatening letters which indicated the depth of animosity retained against him (.) Various intelligence reports received from sources/ contacts not only amongst the extremists but political parties as well, also indicated the extent of their hatred for Shri Rajiv Gandhi(.) Almost all the Sikh militant groups including various factions of KCF, BTKF,KLF, Babbar Khalsa, ISYF etc had also at one point of time or the other expressed their desire to mount an attack on him (.) The constant effort on the part of the certain militants to procure latest arms and equipment including stinger missiles was also perhaps influenced by this consideration(.) Reports indicated various types of planning including utilisation of suicide squad to either make an attack on the PM or ram a vehicle loaded with explosives into his carcade or house, aerial bombing of his residence, shooting, use of explosive devices of various nature, etc. The incident of the Rajghat on October 2, 1986 also indicates the determination on the part of not only of the organised militant groups but even some stray Sikhs who nurtured some grievance against the former Prime Minister. "

5.1.1 This perception of the Intelligence Bureau was confirmed by the former Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau, Shri. K.N. Thakur, who deposed before the Commission on 8th May, 1989 that :-

"Sikh extremists were annoyed with Shri Rajiv Gandhi also for Operation Blue Star and for November, 1984 riots. Threats to Shri Rajiv Gandhi continued from Sikh extremists from 1986 to 1989."

Similarly, deposing before the Commission on 18th April, 1996, Shri. V.G. Vaidya, former Director, Intelligence Bureau, also admitted that :-

"I am aware of the fact that Sikh militants were hostile to Shri Rajiv Gandhi after the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi......... November 1984 riots followed the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi. Riots followed within a few hours of the assassination. November riots further increased the hostility of Sikhs towards Shri Rajiv Gandhi."

Former Director Intelligence Bureau, Shri. M.K. Narayanan has also deposed on this subject as follows :-

Deposition of Shri. M.K. Narayanan dt. 2.11.1995 Page 2

"From time to time there were reports that terrorists (Sikhs) wanted to eliminate dynasty of Smt. Indira Gandhi including Rajiv Gandhi."

Deposing before the Commission on 3rd. April, 1996, Shri. B.G. Deshmukh, former Cabinet Secretary, and also Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister also corroborated the same view :-

(Page 7 -8) "Threat to the life of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi continued to be immense after the assassination of Indira Gandhi....1984 riots resulted into increase of animosity to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi by Sikh militants....After November 1984 riots there were activities of Sikh militants abroad against Shri. Rajiv Gandhi and also against his family members. Such reports continued pouring in till I remained in office and they continued till he was assassinated as per newspaper reports. Such reports poured in from various countries. I can specify Canada, united States and London."

5.2 The reports of the Intelligence Bureau of the period give an insight on the constant and determined efforts being made by Sikh extremists within the country to harm Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. Reports in early 1988, inter alia, indicated :-

-- It was learnt that Daljit Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) visited Delhi in the first week of January 1988 with some other top leaders including Sukhdev Singh @ Gen. Labh Singh, Sukhwinder Singh @ Sukhi and Kanwaljit Singh to plan some spectacular action.

-- Khalistan Commando Force(KCF) had, by then, reportedly, procured four 2" mortars, 2 rocket launchers, 20 shoulder firing missiles and two 115 mm mortar guns from Pakistan. There were also reports which indicated the possession of a sizeable quantity of SMG's /stenguns, some LMGs and many assorted small weapons besides more than 150 Chinese made AK-47 rifles. (Annexure T- 40)

-- Panthic Committee member Wassan Singh Jaffarwal had visited Pakistan in Nov.-Dec.1987 and requested Pakistani authorities to send infiltrators in the guise of Hindus to plan the assassination of the PM, Shri. Rajiv Gandhi.

-- Panthic Committee had instructed the Members of the Khalistan Council living abroad to approach the Govt. of Israel to hire the services of Israeli commandos for attacking VIPs in India and abroad."

-- Some extremists belonging to Labh Singh group of KCF planned to blow up the aeroplane in which the Prime Minister or some other VIPs travel with sophisticated weapons procured from Canada (Annexure S-43)

-- BTKF activists were in high spirits particularly after the adoption of their new strategy to kill police informers and their family members. One activist remarked that their goal would be achieved only after liquidation of a senior most leader like the former Prime Minister

-- In May, 1988, it was learnt that a Sikh extremist, namely, Gurbax Singh Sahota @ Budha ....had come to Punjab to assassinate Shri. Rajiv Gandhi(Annexure S-43)

5.3 The Intelligence Bureau, in April 1988, summed up the situation as follows :(Annexure T-36)

"From the point of VIP security the situation continues to be grim. Several reports received recently affirm the determination of Sikh extremists to cause harm to the Prime Minister and other VIPs. Bruce Palling of 'Independent' newspaper of London has given out that during his visit to Amritsar on March 29, Sikh teenagers with weapons concealed on their persons asserted their determination to kill the Prime Minister. John Eliot, a correspondent of the Financial Times who visited Amritsar in the first week of April said that Giani Jagir Singh of golden Temple asserted that 'we will kill Rajiv and Ribeiro'. The use of RPG-7 rockets in Punjab has added a new dimension to the threat situation. The recovery of large caches of sophisticated arms including AK-47 rifles, rockets and explosive devices indicate the increase in the number and quality of weapons in the possession of extremists. AK-47 which earlier was available to the leaders of the hit squads only, has now become the main weapon of even ordinary cadre. This has increased the hazard to VIP security greatly."

5.4 The threat perceptions of the period clearly indicated that the Sikh militants were in the continuous process of procuring sophisticated materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices which they had been using in organising bomb explosions in various parts of Punjab. Acquisition of lethal weapons predictably led to emboldening of elements hostile to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. During mid- 1988, reports were received indicating serious efforts by Punjab extremists to arm themselves specifically to hit at Indian VIPs. According to a report, Sikh terrorists were learnt to be trying to smuggle telescopic guns/rifles from Pakistan for using them against VIP targets.

In another report of 30th June 1988, the Intelligence Bureau (Annexure T-37)specified that :

"... Wassan Singh, Member, Panthic Committee, had informed Gurbachan Singh Manochahal that arms for the militants were expected from China via Nepal. According to another information, Mohinder Singh, brother of Wadhwa Singh, Babbar Khalsa activist, presently in Pakistan had smuggled 15-16 remote control devices into India for use in improvised remote control explosive devices. Another report indicates that two Sikh extremists brought a high frequency radio trans- receiver to Pakistan from U.K. This may be smuggled into India for the use by the Sikh extremists."

5.5 The high point of anti- extremist steps taken in Punjab by the Government headed by Shri. Rajiv Gandhi was the 'Operation Black Thunder' of May, 1988, in which, the Police and the paramilitary forces, in a week long operation in Golden Temple Complex at Amritsar, flushed out top Sikh militants holed up in the Complex. This operation was a big blow to the Sikh extremists and greatly affected their morale.

Operation Black Thunder led to the seizure of large number of arms as well as incriminating documents from the Golden temple complex. Documents seized in the Golden Temple Complex further confirmed the determination of the Sikh extremists to cause harm to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. In a letter addressed to Bhai Sukhdev Singh Jhamke from Wassan Singh ( which was one of the documents recovered ), it was mentioned to make attempt on the Prime Minister. The letter also stated that there were many Sikhs from Gurdaspur in Delhi Police and attempts should be made to select and cultivate some of them to keep a track of the programmes of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi for planning successful attempts.Annexure T- 38)

5.6 Shri. Rajiv Gandhi has planned to visit Punjab in September, 1988. The flurry of extremist activity during this period, directed towards making very specific preparations to assassinate Shri. Rajiv Gandhi during his visit to Punjab, shows the determination and desperation of the Sikh extremists. These threats were extremely serious, concrete and well planned and carried extremely grave danger to his life. From the intelligence reports of the period, (September, 1988),(Annexure T-39 and T-40) the following specific plans of the Sikh extremists could be unearthed :-

-- KCF circles spread the rumour that Shri. Rajiv Gandhi might visit the Golden Temple secretly. In that eventuality the KCF had been assigned with the task of making an attempt on his life he visits the G.T.Complex.(Annexure S- 43)

-- It was learnt that a huge amount of Rs 4 lakhs to 5 lakhs may be offered to some Punjab Police personnel by the militants for placing an explosive device underneath the rostrum , from where the Shri. Rajiv Gandhi or other VIPs were to deliver their addresses.(Annexure S-43)

-- the Panthic Committee and the Khalistan Commando Force were hatching plans to explode a vehicle containing explosives in the vicinity of the PM's route/locale during his visit to Punjab; (Annexure T-40)

-- Gurnam Singh Bundala, Member Council of Khalistan and Convenor of All Indian Sikh Students Federation(AISSF), alongwith Dr.Jagdish Singh Buttar(AISSF) and Sukhdev Singh Jhamke(KCF) had plans to stage some spectacular actions on the occasions of the PM's visit to Punjab. These militant groups had plans to fire on the convoy of the VVIP. Three suicide squads, one each for Jalandhar, Tarn Taran and Batinda were being set up for this purpose. (Annexure T-39)

-- According to another report, Gurbachan Singh Manochahal had directed Dr.Jagdish Singh Buttar to arrange for land-mines to blow up the car of the VVIP while on its route from Jalandhar to Goindwal or back from Goindwal.(Annexure T-39)

-- Yet another report indicated that Gurnam Singh Bundala had asked underground members of the AISSF(Dr.Jagdish Singh faction), namely Subeg Singh of Batinda and Jagjit Singh of Gurdaspur to create disturbance in Batinda area and plan attacks on the VVIP motorcade. (Annexure T-40)

5.7 In January, 1989, after the order of execution of two assassins of Smt. Indira Gandhi - Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh - there were sharp reactions and it was assessed that threat to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi from Sikh extremists had sharply increased after this incident. A threat assessment report of the Intelligence Bureau, furnished during January, 1989, (Annexure T-42) summed up the threat as follows :-

"Sikh militant organisations both in India and abroad which have been exercised over the death sentence awarded to Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, the assassins of late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, have reacted sharply to the execution of the assassins. Various militant groups in Punjab as also the United Akali Dal (T) and SA Dal (L) gave out calls for observance of Punjab bandh and protests week.... The SGPC organised an Akand Path a Akal Takhat on January. 9. On January 15 during 'bhog ceremony' strident criticism of the Govt. were made and veiled threats of violence were held out. Outside the country, at Cologne in West Germany militant Sikhs burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister on January. 6. At a meeting held on January 8 in the Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver (Canada) some of the ISYF and Babbar Khalsa elements threatened that they would do everything to eliminate the Prime Minister. At a "Shahidi Day" gathering organised by the ISYF in the Southall gurdwara, UK, also a threat to eliminate the Prime Minister was held out."

2. "From these reports it is apparent that threat to the security of the Prime Minister from Sikh extremists has become sharper....Receipt by extremist groups of fresh supplies of sophisticated fire-arms and explosives have added further teeth to the threat."

Recent Intelligence and Activities

3. "According to an information, Charanjit Singh Channi, self-styled Lt.Gen. of KCF, Daljit Singh Bitto, Convenor of AISSF, Sarbjit Singh Botha and Kulwant Singh Khukrana along with some Babbar Khalsa activists are planning to make attempt against VVIPs/VIPs at Delhi during the next two months. The names of the President of India, the Prime Minister & Central Ministers like Shri H.K.L.Bhagat, Shri Buta Singh, Shri Jagdish Tytler have been mentioned in this connection."

8. "Charanjit Singh @ Channi was learnt to have approached a retired IAF officer to use his influence to win over a serving IAF personnel who could be utilised to create threat to the security of the Prime Minister by hitting the Prime Minister's aircraft. This confirms the efforts of the Sikh extremists to cause harm to the security of the Prime minister utilising all means including subversion, impersonation etc."

5.8 Sikh extremist elements abroad also came to notice for building up a campaign against the carrying out of the death sentence awarded to Satwant Singh, the assassin of Smt.Indira Gandhi, and Kehar Singh, his accomplice. They had threatened retaliation in the event of the death sentence being ultimately executed. These had a direct bearing on the security of the Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. Following were some specific instances of protests :-

-- In Canada, there were reports of hostile outbursts by Sikh extremist elements in January , 1989, (Annexure T-43) to protest against the hanging of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh. These views were learnt to have been articulated in Gurdwaras at Vancouver by members of the ISYF and the Babbar Khalsa who were present. They were reported to have shouted that they would do anything to eliminate the Prime Minister whom they held responsible for the hanging.

-- The International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), UK, had organised a "Shaheedi Day" in memory of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh in the Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, Southall, UK on January 8, 1989. About 1000 Sikhs attended this gathering which was addressed, amongst others, by Joginder Singh Kang of Lemington Spa, Balhar Singh Randhawa of Leceister, Parminder Singh Bal and Karnail Singh of Southall. Joginder singh Kang alleged that by having Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh executed, our prime Minister had taken revenge for the killing of his mother. Balhar Singh Randhawa said that through these executions, the Government of India had challenged the Sikhs and appealed to the Sikhs to produce more Satwant Singhs and Kehar Singhs so as to teach a lesson to the Hindu government. Referring to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi he stated, "We will take rest only after eliminating him". (Annexure T-44)

-- Members of the ISYF in West Germany were found to be expressing that the time had come to organise themselves for a long and bitter struggle. It was reported that they are arranging to send funds to Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Talwinder Singh Parmar of the Babbar Khalsa, Canada. On January 7, 1989, the Cologne Gurudwara in West Germany reportedly sent the equivalent of Rs. 40,000 to Baba Thakur Singh of Mehta Chowk.(Annexure T-44)

-- Sikh extremist circles in West Germany were saying that the Sikh extremist groups in the Punjab had agreed to concentrate their efforts on the elimination of the several Indian dignitaries, most importantly, Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. (Annexure T-44)

5.8.1 The weeks preceding the execution of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were marked by a series of threats uttered by Sikh extremist elements settled abroad to indulge in violent retaliation and by reports of preparations by the terrorists to carry out their threats.

Amongst the more serious of the threats uttered during this period were those by Manjit Singh Grewal of the Damdami Taksal West Germany, WHO, while addressing a religious congregation in the Frankfurt Gurudwara on December 11, 1988, warned that Khalistan Commando Force(KCF) elements had already taken up position along with a supply of machine-guns, grenades and bombs for indulging in acts of retaliation not only in Delhi, but also in Kanpur and Lucknow after the execution of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh. Similarly, Babbar Khalsa elements had warned that Talwinder Singh Parmar of the Babbar Khalsa, Canada, had drawn up plans for organising acts of violence for three consecutive days after the execution of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, which would be similar to the three days of violence against the Sikhs, which, according to them, followed the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi (Annexure T-60)

The movements of Babbar Khalsa elements during this period and reports of the infiltration of group of KCF terrorists into Delhi confirmed this. There were indications that the terrorists had been calculating that during the Republic Day the attention of the Police and other Security Forces would be diverted towards security arrangements for the VIPs who would be attending the Parade and this might provide them with an opportunity for indulging in indiscriminate acts of violence in Delhi.

Extremists belonging to the International Sikh Youth Federation(ISYF) and the Babbar Khalsa in the UK, West Germany and Canada were found trying to whip up the feelings of the community on the issue of execution of the killers of Smt. Indira Gandhi. They had been portraying Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh as `martyrs'. They describe the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi by Beant Singh and Satwant Singh as such a religious act of vengeance to protect the honour of the Sikh religion and the execution of Satwant singh and Kehar Singh, who, according to them, carried out only their religious duty in assassinating Smt. Indira Gandhi as a criminal act of vengeance.

Death threats were held out to Prime Minister, Shri. Rajiv Gandhi (who the Sikh extremists held responsible for the decision to have the death sentence against Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh executed) that he would be eliminated in retaliation.

5.9 Throughout the period when Shri. Rajiv Gandhi remained the Prime Minister, feverish efforts continued to be made by the Sikh extremists to assassinate him. As events unfolded in 1989, the threat to the life of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi gradually increased. It is seen that every event related to Sikh terrorism - be it Operation Black Thunder or the execution of the killers of Smt. Indira Gandhi - only increased the animosity of the hostile Sikh elements against Shri. Rajiv Gandhi and made them more and more determined in their efforts. During the course of 1989, notable specific incidents which constituted a threat to the life of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi, which were reported by the Intelligence Bureau, were as follows :-

-- It was learnt in January, 1989, that one Jaswinder Singh Hundal - an active member of Khalistan movement in North America and of International Sikh Youth Federation - intended to enter India to conspire with his followers to assassinate Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

(Annexure S-43) :-

-- It came to light in February 1989 that Two Air Force Personnel who were posted at IAF station Ambala had met a common friend in 1985 in a marriage party. There they had shown their keenness to serve " cause of Sikh panth" by making an attempt on the life of former PM

-- In April 1989, it was learnt that one Ajit Singh Qadian, Propaganda Secy, AISSE(Bandala faction) while talking to a group of GNDU students, declared that days of Rajiv Gandhi were numbered and that he would meet a drastic end shortly.

-- In April 1989, it came to light that BTFK cadres had been advised from their Pak based leaders to use ground to ground missiles of six to eight kms. range for causing explosions of damage to Hindu localities in Delhi, Parliament House, P.M's house and Connaught place.

-- It was learnt during May 1989 that one Gajinder Singh @ Gurinder Singh Gandha s/o Pal Singh of distt. Kapurthala posed threat to VVIPs particularly the Ex.Prime Minister.

-- In June 1989, it was learnt that Satinder Pal Singh Gill, called upon Sikhs to render help in every possible way to the "freedom fighters" in their struggle against the Govt. Thereafter, he invited Ajaib Singh Bagri to speak. Bagri emphasised the need for arms and financial assistance to the "freedom fighters". Stating that the oppressors of the Sikhs would be punished, he added "RAJIV TERI MA MARI HAI, HUN TERI VAARI HAI)".

-- Information was received in July 1989 that one Sarbjit Singh addressed a letter to so- called Area Commander Bakshish Singh, stating therein that he would try to assassinate Shri. Rajiv Gandhi and other VIPs before 15th Aug. 89 provided they were given Rs.5 crores and arms and ammunition.

-- Babbar Khalsa activist Gurmej Singh @ Geja, planned to indulge in many terrorist actions in Delhi including causing harm to the VVIPs at Delhi during August 1989.