How many died in Punjab insurgency? As Satluj ignites debate, demand for a ‘truth commission’

Prelims-testable facts

• 01The Insurgency in Punjab was an armed campaign by the separatists of the Khalistan movement from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
• 02Punjab witnessed one of the most violent internal security crises in independent India between 1981 and 1995.
• 03Multiple Khalistani militant groups were involved in the insurgency, driven by economic and social pressures.
• 04The Punjab Police and central security forces launched an extensive counter-insurgency campaign during this period.
• 05Widespread human rights abuses were alleged against both security forces and militant groups.
• 06The Insurgency in Punjab resulted in significant loss of life, with estimates varying widely.

Trap alerts

• Most people think the number of deaths in the Punjab insurgency is well-documented, but actually it remains a matter of debate due to conflicting reports and estimates.
• Most people think the Khalistan movement was solely driven by religious extremism, but actually it was also motivated by economic and social grievances.