Operation Blue star, one of the most popular military operations in India, was conducted between 3-6 June 1984, on the order of then prime minister, Indira Gandhi. The operation aimed at removing the Sikh separatists from the Golden temple in Amritsar. The separatists, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, were accused of starting a major armed uprising which could lead to large scale violence in the state and amassing weapons in the holy Sikh temple.
The operation was divided into two components - Operation Metal, which was confined to Golden temple complex, & Operation Shop which was to raid the countryside all over Punjab to capture any suspects. Following it, another operation, Operation Woodrose was launched to thoroughly scan the countryside of Punjab to round up any suspect.
On June 3, a 36 hour curfew was imposed in the state of Punjab with all methods of public travel and communication suspended. Electric supplies was also interrupted , leading to a complete blackout in the state and cutting it off from the rest of India and the world. Complete censorship was enforced on the news media. The Indian army stormed the Golden temple on the night of 5 June under the command of Kuldip Singh Brar. The forces had full control of the temple by the morning of 7 June.The major leaders Bhindrawale and Shabeg Singf , along with many others were killed.
The operation was carried out with the help of military tanks, helicopter, artillery and armored vehicles by military troops. Casualty figures given by the commander of the operation, Kuldip Singh Brar, put the number of deaths of military personnel at 83 and injured at 220. According to official estimate, around 440 civilians were killed during the operation. The operation led to an uproar among the Sikh community all over the world. Many Sikh soldiers in the army mutinied, many resigned from their jobs and a few returned the awards and honours they had received from the Indian Government.
Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards in what is viewed as an act of vengeance. Following her assassination more than 5000 Sikhs were killed in anti-Sikh riots.
