Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star was commenced on 3 June 1984 and ended on 6 June 1984. The Indian Army led by General Kuldip Singh Brar brought infantry, artillery, and tanks into Sri Harmandir Sahib to arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Sri Harmandir Sahib complex and some of the surrounding houses were fortified. The Statesman reported on 4 July that light machine-guns and sophisticated self-loading rifles were known to have been brought into the compound.
Indira Gandhi ordered the army to launch Operation Blue Star. Within six months, Indira Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards killed her (31 October 1984) for the perceived sacrilege.
Fierce fighting ensued between Bhindranwale's supporters and the soldiers, in which many of the Sikhs were killed along with many soldiers. An official account tallies the deaths of 83 soldiers and 492 civilians killed by the army Sri Harmandir Sahib complex also suffered much damage due to the attack, especially the holy Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.
This attack is regarded as a desecration of Sikhism's holiest shrine and discrimination of a minority in India.
In 1986, the repairs performed on the holy Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, which the Rajiv Gandhi Government had undertaken without consultation, were removed. A new Sri Akal Takhat Sahib was completed in 1999 by Kar Sevaks.
Read more about this topic: Harmandir Sahib
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