Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : For nearly forty years, the bombing of Air India Flight 182 has remained Canada's deadliest act of mass murder and a painful symbol of justice denied. Now, a crucial chapter in this tragic story has closed not with a conviction, but with the quiet death of a man known only to investigators as "Mr. X"—one of the key figures who helped build the bomb that killed 329 people.
According to investigative reports, this individual, whose identity was a closely guarded secret for decades, died of natural causes in British Columbia, Canada. He was never charged for his role in the 1985 terror plot. While Canadian intelligence (CSIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had identified him years ago as the third man involved in constructing the explosive device, they were never able to gather enough evidence to secure a conviction in court.
The plot, orchestrated by Sikh separatists seeking a Khalistani state, involved two bombs. The first tore apart Air India Flight 182 mid-air off the coast of Ireland, killing all 280 passengers and 49 crew members. The second bomb exploded prematurely at Tokyo's Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers as they were transferring luggage to another Air India flight.
The investigation into this horrific act of terrorism has been long and fraught with frustration. Only one person, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was ever convicted, serving time for manslaughter for his role in making the bombs. The alleged masterminds, Talwinder Singh Parmar and Ripudaman Singh Malik, escaped justice; Parmar was killed in India in 1992, and Malik was acquitted by a Canadian court in 2005 before being assassinated in 2022.
The death of "Mr. X" represents a bitter end to a long hunt. He was a critical link in the conspiracy, the technical expert whose skills brought the deadly plan to fruition. His passing means another central figure in the bombing will never face a courtroom, taking his secrets to the grave. For the hundreds of families who lost loved ones on that fateful day, it is another painful reminder that full justice for the Kanishka bombing remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
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