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Babbar Khalsa was one of many Sikh groups operating during the 1970s and '80s. They were sponsored by expatriate and Indian Sikh groups who worked for the creation of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of the Pure) from Indian territory in the Punjab.
The Babbar Khalsa was formed in Canada by Talwinder Singh Parmar in 1981. In 1992 after a split from the leadership of the Babbar Khalsa International, Parmar founded the Babbar Khalsa (Parmar) faction.
Parmar was killed during a gun battle with Indian police on October 27th, 2000.
The Babbar Khalsa has been listed as a terrorist organization by India, Canada, and the United States along with other active groups including the International Sikh Youth Federation, Dal Khalsa, and the Bhinderanwala Tiger Force.
The Babbar Khalsa was accused of the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985. Two alleged members Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri are arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on October 27, 2000.
On August 31, 1995, an alleged member, Dilawar Singh, assassinated Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh at the civil secretariat in Chandigarh during a suicide bombing.
Sikh terrorist attacks included assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings. Since 1992 Indian security forces have killed or captured many senior Sikh militant leaders and total civilian deaths in Punjab have declined more than 95 percent since over 3,300 civilians died in 1991.
Within the last 20 years militant Sikhs were removed from positions of power within Sikh temples and as a result support for terrorist activities has nearly evaporated within the Sikh community.
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