Ahead of the upcoming 39th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing, the law enforcement of Canada has recently announced, that a probe into the 1985 bombing of Air India Flights 182 is currently ‘active and ongoing.’
Issuing a statement, Assistant commissioner David Teboul, who is also a commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region said, ‘The Air India investigation is the longest and certainly one of the most complex domestic terrorism investigations that the RCMP has undertaken in our history. Our investigative efforts remain active and ongoing.’
Later, he also asked canadian citizens to four memorials of the victim, which are located in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa.
He also emphasized, that kanishka bombing has impacted generations. The impact of this incident hasn’t diminished in their country’s history.
‘The impacts of the greatest terror-related loss of life involving and affecting Canadians in our country’s history have not diminished with time. The trauma caused by the bombing on June 23, 1985, has impacted generations.’ added Teboul.
Earlier on June 2017, Gary Bass, who worked with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told Hindustan Times, that progress in the investigation is still possible in this case despite the passing of years.
However, unfortunately, only one person has been convicted in this case- the maker of the bomb Inderjit Singh Reyat, who was acquitted by halfway house and was allowed by Canada’s Parole Board to return to his family on February 2017.
About Kanishka Bombing
On June 23, 1985, the flight Air India Boeing 747, also called Kanishka, which was operating on Montreal-London-Delhi-Bombay route, was exploded 45 minutes before it landed at London’s Heathrow Airport. Thus, resulting in the killing of 329 passengers on board. Many of Them were predominantly canadian of Indian descent.
It is said that the bombing was allegedly carried out by Khalistan terrorists in retaliation for Operation Bluestar.