New Delhi, June 23, 2025 – 05:30 PM IST
Because the world marks the fortieth anniversary of the tragic bombing of Air India Flight 182—generally known as the Kanishka bombing—on June 23, 1985, a latest social media put up has reignited discussions concerning the enduring legacy of Khalistani terrorism. The assault, which claimed 329 lives when a bomb detonated mid-flight en route from Montreal to London, stays one of many deadliest aviation terrorist incidents previous to 9/11. In the present day, a put up by X person
@shahkabir069 has stirred controversy by alleging a brand new menace from a “Khalistani terrorist” to explode an Air India flight on November 19, accompanied by a putting picture and the hashtag #ExposeKhalistanTerror.
The unique Kanishka bombing, meticulously investigated by the Excessive Court docket of Delhi, pointed to Khalistani militants because the perpetrators, with Inderjit Singh Reyat, the one particular person convicted, serving a diminished sentence earlier than his launch in 2017. His subsequent perjury conviction in 2010 for deceptive testimony through the trial of different suspects has fueled ongoing criticism of the judicial dealing with of the case in Canada. Because the anniversary approaches, the unverified declare within the X put up has prompted authorities to concern a cautious assertion, with India’s Ministry of Residence Affairs confirming they’re monitoring the state of affairs however have discovered no credible proof of an imminent menace as of now.
The Kanishka bombing was an act of terror, plain and easy. The victims, whether or not Canadian, British, or Indian, had been harmless. The perpetrators, Khalistani militants, deserve no sympathy. #ExposeKhalistanTerror pic.twitter.com/3EbzfbpQVl
— Kabir Shah (@shahkabir069) June 23, 2025
Historic context reveals the Khalistan motion, which sought a separate Sikh homeland, peaked within the Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties, with militancy considerably waning by 1997, in accordance with a U.S. State Division report. Nonetheless, pro-Khalistan sentiments persist amongst segments of the Sikh diaspora, significantly in Canada, the place the Kanishka assault was deliberate. Specialists recommend the latest put up could exaggerate present dangers, although it underscores lingering tensions. “The Kanishka bombing was a scar on world aviation safety, and its reminiscence retains these points alive,” stated Dr. Anjali Sharma, a terrorism analyst at Jawaharlal Nehru College. “But, we should separate historic grievances from present-day threats.”
The picture accompanying the put up, that includes a person labeled as a “Khalistani terrorist,” has drawn scrutiny for missing official verification, elevating issues about misinformation. Social media platforms are beneath strain to curb such content material, particularly because the anniversary amplifies public sensitivity. In the meantime, households of the victims, a lot of whom had been Canadian, British, or Indian nationals, proceed to hunt closure, with some advocating for renewed investigations into unresolved facets of the case.
Because the clock ticks towards the anniversary, the worldwide Sikh neighborhood and Indian authorities are at a crossroads. Whereas the Khalistan motion’s violent section has largely subsided, the Kanishka bombing’s legacy serves as a somber reminder of the necessity for vigilance. Whether or not the newest declare is a hoax or a harbinger of hassle, it has undeniably reopened a chapter of historical past that refuses to fade quietly into the previous.
