40 years ago October 8, 1986: Probe into assassination bid

On October 8, 1986, a committee led by Cabinet Secretary B G Deshmukh was established to investigate the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Rajghat on October 2. The four-member committee will also propose measures to enhance the Prime Minister's security system. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested six individuals from Delhi and surrounding areas in connection with the assassination attempt.

These detentions followed revelations made by the assailant, Karamjit Singh, about his activities and associates in the capital over the past few months. The CBI sources stated that the individual who sold Singh the homemade pistol had been identified, and the CBI believes they will soon apprehend him.

Union Home Minister Buta Singh dismissed the possibility of negotiations with the president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Subhash Ghisingh. When asked about the reason for not engaging in talks with Ghisingh, Singh stated, "Why should I talk with Ghisingh?" This marked a firm stance by the government in dealing with the situation.

Concerns have been raised about the leakage of militarily sensitive gravity data, particularly in relation to the Himalayan region. Such data is crucial for accurately guiding ballistic missiles towards their targets. The government is wary of the potential security implications of sharing India's gravity data with other nations, as it could facilitate attacks on Indian military installations.