#SikhGenocide84

What was Operation Blue Star?

Operation Blue Star was the codename given to the June 1984 Indian Army attack on the Darbar Sahib Sri Harmandir Sahib (often called the Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar Punjab, one of the holiest shrines of the Sikh faith and akin to the Vatican for Catholics.

The attack occurred from June 1-10, 1984. For a day-by-day breakdown of the events check out the highly acclaimed 10 Days of Terror report from the National Sikh Youth Federation.

The Indian army invaded on the orders of Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. Around 100,000 army troops had been deployed throughout Punjab. The army – who attacked in full force with tanks, helicopters and heavy artillery – were deployed under the pretence of removing “militant” leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (a revered Sikh leader and activist that was then head of seminary DamDami Taksal) and his followers from the complex. Whilst Indian media portrayed Sant Jarnail Singh as a militant trying to divide India, the Sikh Saint was actually leading peaceful protests for more rights for Punjab and Sikhs.

Sant Jarnail Singh’s group numbered approximately 250. The  many buildings in and around the complex were filled with thousands of civilians, including countless women and children that had come to visit due it being a day of commemoration for the Shaheedi (martyrdom) of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, meaning it was busier than usual.

Many eye witnesses have testified to the callousness of the Indian army during this attack, with hundreds of innocent civilians killed within the complex, including women, children and infants. Some were even tied up before being executed, whilst many women also reported being raped by Indian army officers.

Alongside the Amritsar attack, Indian army simultaneously attacked approximately 30+ other historical Gurdwaras all over Punjab and even looted then burned the famed library within . Whilst Indian authorities state 492 civilians were killed, independent groups estimate the total at over four times that amount, including the attacks on Gurdwaras across the Punjab on the same day.

See a list of the Shaheeds (martyrs) of the Battle of Amritsar by clicking here.

CASE STUDIES AVAILABLE – For more information, including interviews or quotes, email Media@SikhPA.com.

What was the 1984 Sikh Genocide?

Pic via www.sikhiwallpapers.com

The attacks against Sikhs did not end with Operation Blue Star.

In 1984 from October 31st to November 3rd, anti-Sikh pogroms took place all over India after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh guards acting in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar.

Over the next four days thousands of Sikhs were massacred in systematic, planned killing sprees. Sikh led investigations claim up to 30,000 deaths of Sikhs in this period. The then Congress government were heavily implicated in the killings, especially since voting lists were used to identify Sikh families.

On this page we have collated articles, images, videos and stats on the occurrences of 1984.

CASE STUDIES AVAILABLE – For more information, including interviews or quotes, email Media@SikhPA.com.

Innocents Lost in 1984

Innocents Lost 1984

Sikh educational publishing organisation Akaal Publishers have powered a radio drama play giving an inside view of what it was like for those inside the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star.

Innocents Lost in 1984 is a play which focuses on how civilians suffered during the attack, something which is often forgotten during discussions which can focus entirely on the politics behind the military operation. Please use the hashtag #1984Innocents to remind people of the scale of the human tragedy when posting online about Operation Blue Star.

For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/1984Innocents/.

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Have Sikhs gotten justice for what happened?

Until December 2018, the biggest names linked with the massacres – politicians Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath, Sajjan Kumar – were never made to face justice despite countless witnesses claiming they saw them leading mobs to kill Sikhs.

In December 2018 Sajjan Kumar was convicted for his role in the genocide and made to surrender himself in to authorities. With findings showing thousands of Indian state workers escape prosecution for crimes (usually through delays preventing progress on cases) many Sikhs are not overly hopeful of further repercussions for those involved in the 1984 Sikh genocide.

In 1996 Kishori Lal was handed a life sentence for his role in the killings. He was released to protests in 2012.

Many Sikhs feel that the delay in any form of action against those accused means they have been denied real justice for the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

Ongoing Genocide

Image result for punjab fake encounters

State perpetrated murders of Sikhs did not end with the army attacks. Police in India, most notably Punjab police, became notorious for ‘fake encounters’; where people – mainly young men – were arrested only to be never seen again (murdered). Punjab Police acted with impunity under the widely condemned TADA (Terrorism And Disruptive Activities) Act which lasted from 1984-1995 in Punjab, although killings continued beyond that period too.

This was most famously investigated and proven by revered Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who himself was then killed for his work by Punjab Police. Work uncovering the mass killings is the base of documentary Punjab Disappeared.

US based Sikh human rights charity Ensaaf have also documented thousands of cases of fake encounter killings, with some occurring as recently as 2012. This has all been documented via grassroots door-to-door investigations and is likely only a microcosm of the real extent of the issue.