The families of the victims of the bombing of Air India Flight 182 have recently learned that the case will be moving to “inactive status,” as there are no further investigative avenues to pursue. This update was delivered in a meeting with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which left many families, including Deepak Khandelwal, feeling distraught and disappointed.

Deepak Khandelwal, who lost two older sisters in the tragic bombing, expressed his shock at the announcement during the meeting attended by around 65 families of the victims. “This is Canada’s largest mass murder, the worst act of aviation terrorism in the world, other than 9/11, and basically the RCMP is throwing their hands up and saying we can’t do anything about this,” he lamented. The bombing on June 23, 1985, resulted in the deaths of all 329 people on board, comprising mostly Canadian citizens of East Indian origin.

According to a statement from the RCMP, there are currently no persons of interest or suspects being considered in the case. They emphasized that while the investigation remains open, there will be no proactive investigative efforts unless new or credible information comes forward. For families like Khandelwal’s, simply having the investigation labeled as “open” is insufficient. Khandelwal articulated this sentiment, stating, “By saying that it’s open doesn’t mean that there’s anybody actually working on it. There are no proactive investigative agents assigned to it.”

The tragedy occurred when a bomb planted inside Air India Flight 182 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland. Among those on board, 286 were Canadian citizens of East Indian descent. Another bombing related to the case simultaneously targeted Japan’s Narita International Airport, resulting in the deaths of two baggage handlers. The trial of two individuals accused in connection with the bombing, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, commenced nearly 18 years later, in 2005. This trial is noted as the longest and most expensive investigation in Canadian history, ultimately leading to both accused being found not guilty.

Malik was later shot and killed in 2022, outside his business in Surrey, British Columbia. In addition to the updates regarding the case's current status, the meeting also addressed an individual referred to as Mr. X, who has been linked to the bombing investigation. While the RCMP indicated that this individual had been identified, no definitive connection to the bombing could be established. They disclosed that the suspect had passed away prior to facing charges and would not be named publicly.

The roots of the Air India bombing are interwoven with the Sikh extremist movement, particularly following the 1984 operation at the Golden Temple and the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Talwinder Singh Parmar is recognized as the mastermind behind the horrific act, having been a prominent leader of Babbar Khalsa, designated as a terrorist entity both in Canada and India. Parmar returned to India after the bombing and was killed by Punjab police in 1992. The only individual ever convicted concerning the bombing was Inderjit Singh Reyat, who pled guilty to manslaughter and charges related to bomb construction.

As the years have passed, Khandelwal noted that the chances of achieving justice are dwindling due to the passage of time and the deaths of key witnesses and potential suspects. “It’s very unclear that the RCMP has really done any investigative steps since 2005 going forward,” Khandelwal asserted, emphasizing the families' demand for clarity regarding the actions the RCMP has taken since that time. During the meeting, family members sought answers to these queries, but the RCMP struggled to provide satisfactory responses.

While the investigation remains open, the affected families strongly argue that mere status retention is inadequate. Khandelwal stated, “We, as the families, believe that this investigation should continue and be moved into an active status. We would like them to pursue all angles, as there are definitely investigative angles that are open for them to investigate both of the people responsible and also the broader organization responsible for killing 331 innocent people.”

With files from Dorsa Delara, OMNI News