Operation Blue Star
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The Operation Blue Star (June 4 to June 6, 1984) was the Indian military raid of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, the holiest temple of the Sikh religion.
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Beginnings
By 1984, the Sikh military had reached a new high with daily attacks on Hindus, Sikhs, migrant workers and those who opposed militant dictators. Following crackdown on Sikh militants in early 1984, a group of militant Sikhs led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale took refuge in the Golden Temple and transformed it into a military stronghold.
Indian authorities had been very reluctant to take military action in the Golden Temple, however, confirmed reports emerged of a large armoury being accumulated in the temple and the complete takeover of the administration of the temple by militants. Further, an increasing number of militant operations were being co-ordinated and executed out of the temple. Finally, numerous prominent Sikh figures were assassinated when visiting the Golden Temple to offer prayers. In March 1984, by which time the temple was already long occupied by Bhindranwale, the then leader of the Sikh militants, the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to surround the temple. In April, major concessions were offered by the Indian government which were welcomed by the moderates like Akali Dal but failed to appease the radicals. Tensions continued to mount between the government and the radical faction amidst an increase in violence in the state of Punjab and intelligence reports of India's archrival Pakistan's willingness to politically and militarily support an independent state of Khalistan as a homeland for the Sikhs.
On the 3rd of June, a 36 hour curfew was imposed on the state of Punjab which increased the apprehensiveness of the militants inside the temple that a raid on the temple was imminent. The period coincided with the weekend of 2nd and 3rd, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, who built the Golden Temple and compiled the Sikh's Holy book. As a result of this, when the curfew was lifted the temple was filled with worshippers.
Stand-off
So far the religious risks of storming the shrine had led to a tense stand-off and it appeared security forces were still hoping the militants would surrender, making a direct attack unnecessary.
Amid fears of declaration of independence by Bhindranwale and support from Pakistan, Indira Gandhi decided to send troops inside the temple. Bhindranwale declared he would die as a martyr and any military action within the temple would unite the Sikhs of India. Notably, earlier in a BBC interview, Bhrindranwale had stated that he did not wish to declare a separate Sikh state. Indian intelligence reports and the KGB Mitrokhin archives, however, have indicated otherwise and the matter remains highly contentious.
Role of Afghan War and Pakistan
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had the strategic objective of allowing Soviets access to the Persian Gulf with the ability to shut-off the crucial oil supplies of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates should the eventuality arise. The other long term goal was to extend Soviet sphere of influence over Iran (where there had been an Islamic Revolution in 1979) and the Middle East while suring up its control of Eurasian SSRs.
Afghanistan has access to the Arabian Sea through the Pakistani province of Baluchistan. A breakup of Pakistan or a favourable regieme change would have given the Soviets access to Baluchi or Pakistani ports. According to the Mitrokhin archives, the KGB had extended and post-invasion intensified support to sepratists and nationalist groups in Pakistan.
Pakistan, a United States ally and CENTO (also known as the Baghdad Pact) signatory, responded by working with US security forces and the CIA to train, equip and operationally support mujahideen fighters against the Soviets in Afghanistan. India, had been a non-aligned nation for much of its history, but after Paksitani genocides in Bangladesh (see Bangladesh Liberation War) and a rebuke from President of United States Nixon had signed the Indo- Soviet ‘Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation’ in the days prior to the Third Indo-Pakistan War (the Eastern theatre of which is also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War) in 1971.
In the intelligence war that followed, Indian security and intelligence agencies led by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) supported and aided KGB efforts within Pakistan, while Pakistan agencies led by the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) pursued a doctrine to ferment Low Intensity Conflicts (LICs) within India. Reigions where there was a majority population of religions or ethinic minorities were to be targeted, particularly, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and the North-East. In Punjab, ISI activities focussed on the creation of a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, the "Land of the Pure" in Punjabi, in contrast to Pakistan that stands for the "Land of the Pure" in Urdu.
Bhrindwale's group received significant support in terms of equipment, arms training and diplomacy from Pakistan. An outcome of this support was the grant of asylum to 'tainted' Sikhs in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Since then, however, a number of Khalistan militants have been extradited to India or are fighting extradition in Western courts. It is important to note, that the Indian authorities, and the many Sikhs that were part of Indian intelligence and security forces in battling the Punjab insurgency, were motivated from a secular security standpoint overshadowed by the Cold War.
Bluestar Operational Plans
Operations plans were heavily influenced by the last minute assessment of a well trained and well equipped insurgent force within the Golden Temple led by former Major General Shabeg Singh (dismissed from the Indian Army in 1976). The two senior commanders, Maj. Gen. Brar, a Sikh himself, and Lt. Gen. Sundarji, believed there was no way to avoid a violent resolution. Brar went in and briefed all troops. Spending 30 minutes at each location he explained the difficult and terrible mission at hand describing it as an operation that was not against Sikhs but against terrorists. Due to the sensitive nature of the operation, he further emphasized this was to be a volunteer mission. However, not one of the many Sikh officers, JCOs and ORs, opted out. Further, orders were issued to give special attention in according all due respect to Sikh religious and historical icons, monuments and to the rescue of numerous hostages within the temple. Sundarji would later comment in an interview nearly 20 years after Bluestar as to how mounting Indian casualties due to the conviction at all times to ensure the sanctity of these icons, eventually, led to the use of armoured vehicles within the temple (for safety and machine gun fire only). After the operation, the National Security Gaurds (better known as the "Black Cat" commandos) were raised as the nodal special forces force in future anti-terrorist operations. Consequently, subsequent stormings of Golden Temple in Operation Black Thunder I and II resulted in only few injuries.
The operation was to be launched in the following phases:
I - Initial Operations::
- BSF to secure Hotel Temple View by 9 pm, June 5th.
- CRPF to secure Brahm Boota Akhara by 10 pm, June 5th.
II - Phase 1
- 10 Guards to secure Northern Wing of the Temple Complex by 1 am, June 6th.
- 1 Para-Commandos
- Secure a foothold in the Akhal Takht at the earliest and not later than 1 am, June 6th.
- Secure a foothold in Harmandir Sahib with divers and neutralise demolitions, if any, by 11:30 pm, June 5th.
- Special Frontier Force (SFF) to isolate Akhal Takht and secure western flank by 1 am, June 5th.
- 26 Madras to secure southern and eastern wings by 1 am, June 5th.
- 9 Kumaon to secure Guru Ram Das Serai and SGPC building by 1 am, June 5th.
III - Phase 2 Mopping up all areas secured in Phase 1
IV - Phase 3
- 9 Kumaon - extend operations to secure the rest of hostel complex.
- Units of 10 Guards, SFF and 1 Para Cdo to secure rest of Temple Complex and check prisoners.
Others: 12 Bihar was to continue to cordon of the Temple with CRPF units under its command and provide fire support to any target within its span of observation.
Mechanised Units
Armour: 16 Cavalry
- Three tanks to enter through the main temple entrance, initially for close protection for 10th Guards but thereafter for support to infantry, paras and SFF with machine gun fire.
- Three tanks to enter the langar area and provide machine gun fire for the 26 Madras.
Mechanised Infantry: 8 Mech Btn
- 4 BMP to carry para-commando/divers.
- 4 BMPs and 3 Skot APCs to support the 26 Madras and Paras.
Reserves : 15 Kumaon - 2 companies as backup for 9th Kumaon and 2 companies for any contingency tasks.
Central Rendezvous and Logistics Control - City Kotwali.
Divisional Tactical HQ - Roof Top outside Temple complex.
H-Hour for operation launch 10 pm, June 5th
A last minute attempt was made for a peaceful resolution. A senior civil administration member and a senior army officer through a public address system asked militants and devotees to come outside. From 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm the attempts continued. Only some 129 devotees many of them very sick were let go. The other hapless ones were held hostage inside, used as a deterrent to the army.
Timeline
Indian Army Attacks
On June 5th 1984, the Indian army asked the militants to surrender and made a plea to release the trapped civilians inside. The militants however refused to surrender or release the hostages forcing the army to storm the temple.
The army used as much force as it deemed necessary to dislodge the militants.
Eyewitnesses say that the army deployed tanks, armed personnel carriers, rocket launchers, heavy machine guns and helicopters. Many of the buildings surrounding the Temple were reduced to rubble. However the army also tried to limit damage to the extent that it was possible. The Harmindar Sahib [the sanctum sanctorum where the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept during the day] received little damage. On the other hand, Bhindranwale, a self proclaimed leader of the Sikhs, showed total disregard for the tenets of Sikhism by occupying the first floor of the Akal Takht. The Akal Takht is where the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book) is kept at night after being taken from the Harmindar Sahib and no one is allowed to stay above the Guru Granth Sahib.
The militants hiding in the temple appeared to be armed heavily with machine guns, anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers and resisted the army's attempts to dislodge them from the shrine. The militants also appeared to have planned for a long occupation of the shrine having arranged for water from wells within the temple compound, and had stocked food provisions that would have lasted months.
The ensuing day-long gunfight resulted in the death and capture of several militants and the loss of lives of several army personnel and civilians caught in the cross-fire.
Despite the government's claims that only extremists were killed other reports show that many visitors were killed in the cross-fire. India today (30/9/84) reported the case of Zaida Khartton, a Bangladeshi women who stopped to get food for her five children at the Golden Temple and ended up in jail. Water, electricity and telephone links to the Golden Temple were cut off.
On 18/6/84 Christian Science Monitor reported: -" For five days the Punjab has been cut off from the rest of the world. All telephone and telex links are cut. No foreigners are permitted entry and on Tuesday, all Indian journalists were expelled. There are no newspapers, no trains, no buses- not even a bullock cart can move."
It was a military operation using indiscriminate force against a non-military target and as such was in breach of Article 51 of the 1977 Protocol to the Geneva Convention. In the Punjab as a whole, about 150,000 to 200,000 soldiers were used to flush out "terrorists".
Many Sikhs believe that the number of Bhindranwale's men has been greatly exaggerated by the government. Some estimates by survivors of the attack put the number of Bhindranwale's men at around 100 men. Other estimates put Bhindranwale's men at 500 and other armed groups at 150.
The operation was poorly executed and the army brought in tanks in the temple to flush the militant Sikh separatists. The success in emptying the temple was marred by the damage to the temple building and killing of civilian worshipers caught in the fire. There were apparently more than 3,000 people in the temple when Operation Blue Star began, among them 950 pilgrims, 380 priests and other temple employees and their families, 1,700 Akali Dal supporters, 500 followers of Bhindranwale and 150 members of other armed groups. Official figures put the number of people killed at around 1000, however unofficial sources estimate that the number of civilian casualties alone were much higher.
Operation Blue Star led to India's bitter relations with Sikhs all over the world. It was considered by most Sikhs as a great insult because of the use of force at their holy place, on one of the most holiest of days. The later assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was said to be in response. The events that followed were more horrific. Anti-Sikh riots broke out in North India killing as many as 3,000 Sikhs, militancy in Punjab lasted for more than a decade in which many people, often a target of Sikh militants, were killed.
Operation Bluestar was followed by Operation Woodrose, in which the Indian government expanded their operations in Punjab and arrested and killed many thousands of Sikh militants.
References
- Sikhs in Punjab (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/punjab.htm))
- BBC Reports and timeline (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/6/newsid_2499000/2499341.stm))
- Indian Army Viewpoint (http://www.sikh.com.au/blue/))
- OnWar Repository of Conflicts (http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/india/india1984a.htm))
- Sikhs in Punjab (http://www.sikhlionz.com/operationbluestar.htm))