Madam, - I noted with deep regret that your coverage of the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Air India air crash (The Irish Times, June 23rd) claimed that "Sikh separatists" were responsible for planting the bomb on the aeroplane.
May I kindly point out the key fact that in March 2005, both Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were acquitted by the highest court in Canada? As for the carelessness with which the word "Sikh" was used, perhaps it was not realized that a mere stroke of a pen can serve to defame and stigmatise an entire community, which in this case is blameless.
I would also point out that Sikhs have always been sympathetic to the families of the air crash victims, many of whom are Sikhs. - Yours, etc,
HARPREET SINGH, Irish Sikh Council, Dublin 2.