Pro-Khalistan Slogans Raised Inside Golden Temple on Operation Blue Star Anniversary

Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised inside the Golden Temple complex on Saturday during events marking the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Members of several hardline Sikh groups gathered near the Akal Takht, where they also displayed posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during the 1984 military operation.

June 6 marks the death anniversary of Bhindranwale, the head of the Damdami Taksal, who was at the center of the events leading to Operation Blue Star. The observance drew supporters and members of various Sikh organizations to the Golden Temple complex, where slogans supporting Khalistan were reportedly raised during the gathering.

Anticipating large crowds and heightened sensitivities surrounding the anniversary, the Punjab Police implemented an extensive security plan across Amritsar and nearby areas. According to police officials, nearly 4,000 personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Additional forces were brought in from outside the district, while five companies of the Central Armed Police Forces were stationed within the city to strengthen security arrangements.

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Speaking during a security review visit, Praveen Kumar Sinha said authorities had established a comprehensive security grid throughout Punjab, with a particular focus on Amritsar due to the significance of the anniversary. Police officers conducted field inspections and coordinated deployments to ensure that commemorative events remained peaceful.

Operation Blue Star was launched by the Indian Army in June 1984 under orders of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove armed militants led by Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple complex. The operation resulted in significant casualties and remains one of the most debated and sensitive chapters in modern Indian history. Later that year, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, an event that further deepened tensions and left a lasting impact on the country’s political and social landscape.

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