Canadian Sikhs accused of being involved in the bombing of an Air India plane in 1985 were acquitted on Thursday by the Canadian judge. The decision evoked vocal response both in Canada and India.

Ripudaman Singh Malik, 57, and Ajaib Singh Bagri, 55, were accused of causing the aircraft crash. "I do feel disappointed because our inquiries were comprehensive. I am not in a position to comment because I have not seen the judgment. But it seems that the judge has let off Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri because the prosecution was not able to prove their involvement beyond reasonable doubt," said Justice Kirpal, ex-chief justice of India.

329 people on board of Air-India’s Flight 182, Montreal to London, died after the explosion of the aircraft above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland, on June 23, 1985.

The judge’s ruling extremely disappointed the relatives of the victims who were standing outside the court building.

"Every Canadian has the right to have an answer from the government like a public inquiry. Who did it? Who is behind this horrible crime? If they’re not guilty, who did it. That’s what we want to know," said Sarwan Singh Rawan, the lawyer for one of the victims.

Lata Pada, whose husband and two daughters died in the crash, said: “There were severe and unforgivable lapses in the system that need to be investigated. The government needs to be held accountable for this betrayal to us.”