Why did Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards kill her? What happened after her murder? Know here

On the morning of 31 October 1984, India's 'Iron Lady' Indira Gandhi was assassinated. She was the Prime Minister of India at that time. She was assassinated by her own 'Sikh bodyguards' Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. This assassination was the result of 'Operation Blue Star' carried out by the Indian Army on the orders of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army in June 1984 caused heavy damage to the Sikh temple. Hundreds of people, including terrorists and the army, lost their lives. However, what happened after the assassination was brutal and a very large number of people were killed. For the next four days, the entire country was in flames of riots. The country's capital bore the brunt of it. More than 3000 Sikhs were killed across the country. The anger against the Sikh community was palpable after the assassination.

Why was Indira Gandhi assassinated?

Carried out between 1 and 8 June 1984, Operation Bluestar was an Indian military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi to oust the leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the buildings of the Amritsar Harmandir Sahib complex.

Indira Gandhi was unpopular among Sikhs, due to her role in the operation that destroyed parts of the Akal Takht and caused casualties.

At the temple, a fire in the library reportedly destroyed Sikh scriptures and manuscripts.

As a result, fearing assassination, the Intelligence Bureau removed Sikhs from his personal bodyguard. He also ordered the reinstatement of his Sikh bodyguards by the Special Security Group, which included Beant Singh. He was considered his personal favourite.

What was Operation Blue Star?

It is a code name given to an Indian military operation to flush out separatists hiding inside the Amritsar Golden Temple on June 5, 1984. The

the operation was ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi primarily to capture the Amritsar Harmandir Sahib complex (popularly known as the Golden Temple).

1. The Indian Army entered the temple premises to oust Sikh extremist religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers.
2. The operation had two components, Operation Metal, which was an invasion of temple premises, and Operation Store, which was confined to the rural areas of the state.
3. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thus agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.
4. This radical Sikh leader had gained considerable support for his cause since 1982 and by mid-1983 had established a base in the Golden Temple complex with ammunition and his followers.
5. Subsequently, Operation Blue Star was launched between 1 June and 6 June 1984 to get rid of Bhindranwale and his demands.
6. The operation helped eliminate Khalistani extremism, resulting in the death of Bhindranwale.

 What happened after the assassination of Indira Gandhi?

1. The Sikh riots broke out in 1984, which shook the country soon after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
2. The rioting lasted for three days, in which Sikhs were raped and killed, their homes and businesses set on fire, especially in Delhi.
3. In the case of Mahilapur, Delhi, a mob of about 500 people led by two convicts surrounded the houses of the victims and killed them.
4. This was one of many other accidents that have happened in Delhi.
5. Out of 650 cases registered in Delhi in connection with the anti-Sikh riots, 267 were closed by the Delhi Police considering them missing.
6. Independent sources put the death toll at around 8,000–17,000. Official Indian government figures put the death toll in Delhi at around 2,800 Sikhs.
7. The complicity of political authorities in the violence and the judicial failure to punish the perpetrators alienated Sikhs and increased support for the Khalistan movement.
8. This has resulted in more abuse and the rise of various extremist Sikh organisations.

 PC: Sikh Siyasat

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