OTTAWA — A major development has emerged from Canada in the decades-old Air India Flight 182 “Kanishka” bombing case, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reportedly considering scaling back its investigation and potentially placing the case in an “inactive” status.
According to an exclusive report by NDTV, senior RCMP officials recently met with families of victims and informed them about possible changes to the investigation, including a reduction in the dedicated task force. The development has deeply concerned families who have spent more than four decades seeking answers and accountability.
The Kanishka bombing took place on June 23, 1985, when Air India Flight 182, travelling from Montreal to London, exploded over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland. All 329 people aboard were killed, including 268 Canadian citizens. Canadian authorities have described it as the country’s deadliest terrorist attack.
The possibility of reducing the investigation has prompted renewed questions about whether the case should remain an active priority. Families of the victims have argued that the passage of time should not end the search for answers.
Sanjay Lazar, chairman of the Kanishka Foundation and a relative of victims, has reportedly written to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney opposing any move to wind down the investigation. NDTV reports that Lazar lost his father, mother and baby sister in the bombing and has continued pursuing answers for decades.
The development is particularly significant for Canada’s South Asian and Sikh communities, given the historical context surrounding the bombing and the long-running pursuit of justice by victims’ families.
The latest controversy comes as Canada continues to confront the historical legacy of the Kanishka bombing and questions surrounding the investigation and security failures that preceded the attack.
For families who have waited 41 years, any move toward formally reducing or ending the investigation is likely to remain a deeply sensitive issue.
The central question now is whether Canada’s authorities will maintain an active investigative effort or move the case toward a reduced or inactive status.