Amritsar: A group of Khalistan supporters raised slogans inside the Golden Temple on Thursday on the 40th anniversary of ‘Operation Blue Star.’
Sikhs, holding posters of Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, chanted slogans as they marked four decades since the military operation that led to the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Bhindranwale, who spearheaded the Khalistan movement in the 1980s, was killed during the operation in 1984.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann was also among those raising slogans. Security was heightened at the Golden Temple, with police taking measures to prevent any incidents.
“Security arrangements have been made here. Forces have been deployed and barricading has been done. Any untoward incident will be monitored,” Senior Superintendent of Police S S Randhawa Singh to ANI.
On June 6, 1984, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to execute Operation Blue Star to remove militants occupying the Golden Temple complex. Bhindranwale, head of the Sikh group Damdami Taksal, and others had allegedly stockpiled weapons inside the temple complex.
The Army killed Bhindranwale and his followers during the operation. Indira Gandhi faced significant backlash for the operation and was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, on October 31, 1984, at her residence.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, won from the Faridkot reserved parliamentary constituency in Punjab, defeating AAP candidate Karamjit Singh Anmol.
