Ceremony in Ottawa marks 40th anniversary of Air India terrorist bombing

CTV’s Camille Wilson has more on the memorial ceremony taking place in Ottawa to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Air India bombing.

A ceremony was held Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India attack, the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.

On June 23, 1985, 329 people including 268 Canadian citizens, were killed by a terrorist bomb aboard an Air India Flight from Montreal. The wreckage landed 190 kilometres offshore of Cork, Ireland.

An annual commemoration ceremony was held at the Air India monument at Dow’s Lake on Monday to mark the tragedy with victim’s families, friends and other community members remembering those lost.

Susheel Gupta lost his 37-year-old mother Ramwati Gupta in the attack, along with 21 other close friends.

“Certainly, over the years, we’ve gotten to know many of the other victim’s families as well. I’m here in her honour and in honour of all the victims who died in this tragedy,” said Gupta, who serves as the director of the Air India Victim’s Families Association.

He was 12-years-old when he lost his mother.

“It’s important to be here, to not only remember our loved ones but to remind Canadians that terrorism is something that happens in Canada. It has happened in Canada,” Gupta said.

Susheel connected with his wife Nidhi through the tragedy after she lost her best friend in the attack at 10 years old. Nidhi Gupta says they went to school together, danced and participated in the Indian culture together.

“Just trying to understand that they were gone and in the brutal way that they were gone. Not understanding how anybody could do something like that. Just trying to grasp the fact that I’d never see her again. She was going away for the summer. We were going to reconnect in September when school started,” said Nidhi Gupta.

Jagmohan and Yash Humar were close friends with the Sait’s, a family of five who were killed.

“A very promising family. We were together always,” said Jagmohan Humar. “The youngest one, Ankur his name. He was one and a half years at the time. I had given him his name.”

Jagmohan says he often sings and says a prayer for them.

“Although it’s been 40 years, still the memories are still the same,” says Aruna Gupta, whose friends died in the attack, “Not a day goes by I don’t think of those innocent children. The families who lost mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, friends. I just send my prayers every time I think of them everyday.”

June 23 is now recognized by the Canadian government as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, not only remembering the victims of Air India but also paying tribute to those affected by terrorism worldwide.

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