Know the untold story of Operation Blue Star

New Delhi: India has witnessed many major incidents of bloodsheds ever since the independence where many lives were ruined and many houses were destroyed.One such incident is Operation Blue Star, which is known as one of the worst events in the Sikh history.This year (3-8 June) marks the 30th anniversary of what has often been described as a watershed moment in India's political history for the chain of events it unleashed - forever altering India's political course and leaving a permanent scar in the psyche of the Sikh community.Operation Bluestar was ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the height of the Sikh militant struggle for a separate state (Khalistan) to flush out armed militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple.This Operation was commanded by Lt. Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar, operating under Gen. Sundarji.It was on 3rd June, that a 36 hour curfew was imposed in Punjab, detaching the state from all modes of communication and transport. Even the electricity supply was suspended detaching Punjab from rest of the world.Thousands and thousands of Sikhs were gathered in the complex of the Golden Temple to celebrate the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and they all were trapped inside the Gurudwara after the curfew was imposed on 3rd June.Operation Blue Star was launched to eliminate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers who had sought cover in the Amritsar Harmandir Sahib Complex.The Indian Army stormed Harmandir Sahib on the night of 5 June under the command of Kuldip Singh Brar.The forces had full control of Harmandir Sahib by the morning of 7 June. There were casualties among the army, civilians, and militants. Sikh leaders Bhindranwale and Shabeg Singh were killed in the operation.The Akal Takht was heavily equipped with sandbags and brick gun emplacements in its windows and arches. From here and the surrounding buildings the dissidents were able to fire at any commandos who make their way in front of the Gurudwara.After midnight, on June 6th, tanks were used to break down the steps leading to the parkarma from the hostel side and an 8-wheeled Polish-built armored personnel carrier made its way towards the Akal Takht.This operation raised a rage among the Sikh community across the world. Many termed it as an inhuman act.However this operation lasted till 8th June, killing 492 civilians and 136 army men, whereas 220 were wounded.Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, two of her Sikh bodyguards, in what is viewed as an act of vengeance.Subsequently, more than 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the ensuing anti-Sikh riots.Within the Sikh community itself, Operation Blue Star has taken on considerable historical significance and is often compared to what Sikhs call 'the great massacre' by the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Sikh holocaust of 1762.Though it's been three decades since the disastrous event, the trauma and rage can still be scene amongst the survivors. This incident changed the history of India forever.