The Sikhs have lost anything between ten to twelve lakh (1 to 1.2 million) people mainly youth, during the decade 1981-91. The break up being:
- Over 200,000 thousand each in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts.
- Over 100,000 each in Ludhiana, Patiala and Bhatinda districts;
- Between 50,000 to 100,000 in Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Sangrur districts;
- Between 25,000 to 50,000 in Rupnagar district.
The above figures are from Dr. Sangat Singh, director of India’s strategic studies at ministry of defense. In his book title “Sikhs in history” he estimates total number of Sikhs killed during the decade 1981-91 between 1 and 1.2 million (Refer to page: 494, “Sikhs in history”). The exact number may never be known as Indian government denies inquiry by any independent body.
About Dr. Sangat Singh
Dr. Sangat Singh was member of the policy planning think tank in the Indian Foreign Office. He was an alternate member of the Joint Intelligence Committee, the supreme policy planning body of the Government of India, for two years each in early and late 1970’s. in between, for three years, he was Director, strategic studies, in India’s Defense Ministry.
Dr. Sangat Singh joined the Ministry of External Affairs in early 1960’s following Nehru’s China war, as a Sinologist specializing in guerrilla warfare. This was shortly overtaken by his numerous high profile stints as an analyst on Pakistan, and a significant one on Iran. He spent his last decade in the foreign office dealing, inter alia, with disinformation. he was known for his incisive analysis.
Dr. Sangat Singh is a keen observer of contemporary events and gained a rare insight into the ongoing developments in Punjab. He was half a dozen books to his credit. He did his PhD from Punjab University in 1964. Dr. Sangat Singh is now retired and now lives in New Delhi.
Note: He is the senior most Sikh to ever work for RAW to date. The Indian Government has never rebutted or challenged his numbers ever!