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| isbn = 0773516395}}</ref> It was also described as number two in the Top 10 Political Disgraces<ref>http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&&issueid=85&id=23078&sectionid=3&Itemid=1&page=in&latn=2 10 Political Disgraces</ref> in [[India Today]], a reputed weekly magazine.
| isbn = 0773516395}}</ref>. It was also described as number two in the Top 10 Political Disgraces<ref>http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&&issueid=85&id=23078&sectionid=3&Itemid=1&page=in&latn=2 10 Political Disgraces</ref> in [[India Today Magazine]].


Official reports put the number of deaths among the Indian army at 83 and the number of civilian deaths at 492, though independent estimates ran much higher.
Official reports put the number of deaths among the Indian army at 83 and the number of civilian deaths at 492, though independent estimates ran much higher.
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===Allegations of Human Rights violation against the Indian Army===
===Allegations of Human Rights violation against the Indian Army===


[[Brahma Chellaney]], who then worked as a reporter for the [[Associated Press]], was the only foreign reporter who managed to stay in [[Amritsar]] despite the media blackout<ref name=FirstReportBrahma>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title = Amritsar witness puts death toll at 1000| work =| pages =7| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-12| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. The very first non-government news reports from Amritsar were provided by Brahma Challaney on telephone about the causalities and was published in the [[The Times]] (London). Chellaney reported that by June 12 1984, 780 dead bodies had already been burned in groups of 30 by the authorities.<ref name=FirstReportBrahma/> The number of causalities reported by Chellaney were far more then government reports at that time<ref name=underestimated>{{cite news | last = |first =| title = Toll in assault on Sikh Temple termed vastly underestimated | work =| pages =| language = English| publisher = Miami Herald| date = 1984-06-11| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. Chellaney's reports revealed several other human rights violations<ref name=ArrestOrdered>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title =Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities | work =| pages =8| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-10-16| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. He reported that many dead bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and were shot in their forehead<ref name=tiedandshot>{{cite news | last = Chellaney |first = Brahma | title = Sikhs in Amritsar 'tied up and shot'| work = Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple | pages =1| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-14| url =| accessdate =2008-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title =Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities | work =| pages =8| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-10-16| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26 | quote= In a report he filed to his agency, which was used prominently in this newspaper on June 14, he said that witnesses had declared that a number of Sikhs had been found dead with their hands tied behind their backs with their turbans, and that the numbers of those who died in the army assault on the temple were far higher than had been publicly admitted}}</ref> . He also reported various other instances of torture and violation of basic human rights.<ref name=shotpointblank>{{cite news | last = Chellaney |first = Brahma | title = Sikh rebels were shot 'at point-blank range'| work = Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple | pages =3| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-14| url =| accessdate =2008-12-2}}</ref> Chellaney interviewed a doctor who said he was picked up by the army and forced to conduct postmortems despite the fact he had never done any postmortem examination before and was just an eye specialist .<ref name=tiedandshot/> The doctor Challeney interviewed also reported women and children among the victims and called the attack on Golden Temple a ''"virtual massacre"''.<ref name=tiedandshot/>
[[Brahma Chellaney]], who then worked as a reporter for the [[Associated Press]], was the only foreign reporter who managed to stay in [[Amritsar]] despite the media blackout<ref name=FirstReportBrahma>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title = Amritsar witness puts death toll at 1000| work =| pages =7| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-12| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. The very first non-government news reports from Amritsar were provided by Brahma Challaney on telephone about the causalities and was published in the [[The Times]] (London). Chellaney reported that by June 12 1984, 780 dead bodies had already been burned in groups of 30 by the authorities.<ref name=FirstReportBrahma/> The number of causalities reported by Chellaney were far more then government reports at that time<ref name=underestimated>{{cite news | last = |first =| title = Toll in assault on Sikh Temple termed vastly underestimated | work =| pages =| language = English| publisher = Miami Herald| date = 1984-06-11| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. Chellaney's reports revealed several other human rights violations<ref name=ArrestOrdered>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title =Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities | work =| pages =8| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-10-16| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26}}</ref>. He reported that many dead bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and were shot in their forehead<ref name=tiedandshot>{{cite news | last = Chellaney |first = Brahma | title = Sikhs in Amritsar 'tied up and shot'| work = Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple | pages =1| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-14| url =| accessdate =2008-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Hamlyn |first =Michael | title =Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities | work =| pages =8| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-10-16| url =| accessdate = 2008-12-26 | quote= In a report he filed to his agency, which was used prominently in this newspaper on June 14, he said that witnesses had declared that a number of Sikhs had been found dead with their hands tied behind their backs with their turbans, and that the numbers of those who died in the army assault on the temple were far higher than had been publicly admitted}}</ref> . He reported that elderly men who surrendered on the first day of army attack were taken away by army and tortured by pulling their beards, removing their turbans, tying their long hair around their necks and putting sand in their eyes.<ref name=shotpointblank>{{cite news | last = Chellaney |first = Brahma | title = Sikh rebels were shot 'at point-blank range'| work = Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple | pages =3| language = English| publisher = The Times| date = 1984-06-14| url =| accessdate =2008-12-2}}</ref> Chellaney also reported news from a local journalist who saw Sikh youth were made to pull their trousers above their knees, kneel and march on the hot road while the soldiers repeatedly kicked and punched them.<ref name=tiedandshot/> Chellaney interviewed a doctor who said he was picked up by the army and forced to conduct postmortems despite the fact he had never done any postmortem examination before and was just an eye specialist .<ref name=tiedandshot/> The doctor Challeney interviewed also reported women and children among the victims and called the attack on Golden Temple a ''"virtual massacre"''.<ref name=tiedandshot/>


Several human rights groups and other journalists claim that Indian Army had severely violated the Human Rights of people of Punjab during Operation Blue Star and subsequent military operations, it is alleged that soon after the Operation Blue Star many [[Sikh]] dead bodies were thrown in dump trucks and illegally cremated by the [[Indian Army]].{{Fact|date=December 2008}}
Several human rights groups and other journalists claim that Indian Army had severely violated the Human Rights of people of Punjab during Operation Blue Star and subsequent military operations, it is alleged that soon after the Operation Blue Star many [[Sikh]] dead bodies were thrown in dump trucks and illegally cremated by the [[Indian Army]].{{Fact|date=December 2008}}

Revision as of 05:53, 29 December 2008

Operation Blue Star

The Golden Temple with Akal Takht in the background
DateJune 3, 1984 - June 6, 1984
Location
Golden Temple in Amritsar, India
Result Sikh militia are driven out of Golden temple complex
Belligerents
Indian Army Sikh militiamen
Casualties and losses
Military: Government reported 83 killed, 248 wounded. However, The Times (London) and New York Times reported via Associated Press reporter Brahma Chellaney that 200 troops died[1][2][3] Militants (including civilians): Government reported 492 Killed. However, The Times (London) and New York Times reported via Associated Press reporter Brahma Chellaney that 800 died, including the burning of 780 dead bodies in groups of 30 by the government[1][2][3]

Operation Blue Star ( ਬਿਲਯੂ ਸਟਾਰ , बिल्यू स्टार (bilyū sţār)) (June 3 to June 6, 1984) was an Indian military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India,[4] to remove Sikh separatists who were amassing weapons in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.[5] The operation was launched in response to a deterioration of law and order in the Punjab. The government's reasons for a seemingly late action, its choice of day to attack and heavy army assault is still highly debated. The operation was carried out by Indian army troops with tanks and armored vehicles.[6] Militarily successful, it is considered to be a political disaster and an un-precedented act in modern Indian history.[7]. It was also described as number two in the Top 10 Political Disgraces[8] in India Today Magazine.

Official reports put the number of deaths among the Indian army at 83 and the number of civilian deaths at 492, though independent estimates ran much higher.

The impact of the military assault, its aftermath and the increased tensions led to assaults on members of the Sikh community within India and uproar amongst Sikhs worldwide. In India, many Sikhs resigned from armed and civil administrative office and returned their government awards.[9] Revenge for the desecration of the Sikh shrine was pledged by some in the Sikh community,[9] resulting in the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984.

The operation

The Indian Army used seven Vijayanta Tanks during the operation[10]

Indira Gandhi first asked Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, then Vice-Chief of Indian Army and who was to succeed as the Army chief, to prepare a position paper for assault on the Golden Temple.[11] Lt. Gen. Sinha advised against any such move, given the sacrilegious outlook from pious Sikhs. He suggested the government adopt an alternative solution. A controversial decision was made to replace him with Gen. Arun Vaidya as the Chief of the Indian army. Gen. Vaidya was assisted by Lt. Gen. K. Sunderjee as Vice-Chief. Operation Blue Star was eventually planned and controlled by them.[11]

On June 3, a 36 hour curfew was imposed on the state of Punjab with all methods of communication and public travel suspended.[12] Electricity supplies were also interrupted, creating a total blackout and cutting off the state from the rest of India and the world.[13] Complete censorship was placed on all types of Media.[13]

The Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple on the night of June 5 under the command of Major General Kuldip Singh Brar. The forces had full control of the Golden Temple by the morning of June 7. Bhindranwale, Shahbeg Singh and several other militant leaders were killed in the operation along with a large number of followers and innocent civilians. The armed forces also suffered many casualties.[14]

Operation Blue Star coincided with a Sikh annual festival. Pilgrims, including the elderly and children, were trapped inside the temple when the operation began and many were reported as wounded and killed as a result.[14]

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple

Throughout his career Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale remained in contact with Indira Gandhi,[15] who maintained the contact despite allegations.[16] Bhindranwale had earlier taken refuge in the Golden temple in April 1980, when he was named as a suspect in the killing of Nirankari Baba Gurbachan Singh[17] to which Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had offered voluntary arrest to Punjab Police but was never arrested due to greater design by Indian Government. The Nirankari Baba, also known as Baba Gurbachan Singh, had been the target of an attack by followers of a Sikh group, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, outside the Golden Temple when he appeared claiming himself to be incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh. The Nirankaris are a heretical sect, who claim to be a part of the Sikh panth, but are not considered such by the Khalsa. On 13 April 1978 Nirankar's Head Gurbachan Singh is alleged to have ridiculed 10th Guru Gobind Singh in a Nirankari Convention held in Amritsar. The Akhand Kirtani Jatha after hearing Nirankari Gurbachan Singh, attached Niranakari Head Gurbachan Singh. In the encounter that ensued between the attackers and the Nirankari Head's bodyguards, the head of the Jatha, Fauja Singh was killed.[18][19] The bodyguards of the Baba used semi-automatic machine guns to fire at the protesters who were carrying swords and sticks. In the ensuing violence, several people were killed: two of Bhindranwale's followers, eleven Sikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, and three Nirankaris.[19] That event was, allegedly[who?], premeditated by the Indian government[18][20] with the Nirankaris subsequently acquitted of any wrong-doing by the courts, on grounds of self-defence.

In 1982, Bhindranwale and approximately 200 followers moved into a guest-house called the Guru Nanak Niwas, in the precinct of the Golden Temple.[21] From here he met and was interviewed by international television crews whilst violence in the Punjab against Hindus continued.[21]

On 23 April 1983, the Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) A. S. Atwal was shot dead as he left the Golden Temple compound. The following day, after the murder, Harchand Singh Longowal (then president of Shiromani Akali Dal) hinted at the involvement of the Chief minister of the Punjab, Darbara Singh, in the murder.[22]

On October 5, 1983 and November 18, 1983, sikh militants hijacked two buses, Sikh and Hindu passengers were separated and the Hindus shot dead.

File:Sant-Jarnail-Singh-Bhindranwale in the golden temple.jpg
Bhindranwale with his entourage at the Golden Temple.

On December 15, 1983, Bhindranwale was forced to move out of Guru Nanak Niwa's house by members of the Babbar Khalsa who acted with Harcharan Singh Longowal's support Longowal by now feared for his own safety. By 1983, the Golden Temple became a shelter for a large number of militants. Mark Tully and Satish Jacob wrote:[23]

"All ... terrorists were known by name to the shopkeepers and the householders who live in the narrow alleys surrounding the Golden Temple...The Punjab police must have known who they were also, but they made no attempt to arrest them. By this time Bhindranwale and his men were above the law."

The Golden Temple compound and some of the surrounding houses were fortified. The Statesman reported on July 4 that light machine-guns and semi-automatic rifles were known to have been brought into the compound. On February 1, 1984, Harcharan Singh Longowal claimed that Bhindranwale had suggested to him that motorcycles and arms should be purchased on a mass scale for killing members of a 'particular community'".[24] Bhindranwale angrily responded to the allegation, saying "...nothing is more farther in my mind than this ".[25]

Faced with imminent army action and with the foremost Sikh political organisation, Shiromani Akali Dal (headed by Harchand Singh Longowal), abandoning him, Bhindranwale declared "This bird is alone. There are many hunters after it ".[25]

Time magazine reported (about Amritsar) that:[26]

"These days it more closely resembles a city of death. Inside the temple compound, fierce Sikh warriors wield submachine guns, guarding against encroachment by government security forces. Outside, the security men keep a nervous vigil, all too aware that the bodies of murdered comrades often turn up in the warren of tiny streets around the shrine."

Overview

Operation Blue Star was launched to eliminate the Sikh militants who had taken control of the Amritsar Golden Temple Complex. The Sikh militants within the Harminder Sahib were led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and former Major-General Shabeg Singh MVC,who had been expelled from the Indian Army for embezzlement. Maj. Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar had command of the action, operating under Gen. Sunderji.

20 hrs - 22 hrs

File:Armyinbluestar.JPG
Indian Army taking position outside the temple complex

The first element was the destruction of Shabeg Singh's outer defenses. Much of this had been completed in the preliminary shelling. Major-General Brar had hoped to force Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale into surrendering, which did not occur. The destroyed defenses included seventeen houses which the police believed Bhindranwale's followers occupied in the alleys surrounding the Golden Temple. Nearby was the Brahmbuta Akhara, a large building housing the headquarters of a Sikh sect. Then there were three main towers which had been fortified to create positions from which Bhindranwale's men could defend. Because the towers rose well above surrounding buildings, they were excellent observation positions for tracking the movement of Indian troops in the narrow alleys surrounding the temple. The tops of these towers were destroyed in the preliminary artillery fire.

22 hrs - 2330 hrs

Between 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM on June 5 commandos from 1st Battalion, the parachute regiment, were ordered to run down the steps under the clock tower on to the parikarma, or pavement, and move quickly around the edge of the sacred pool to the Akal Takht. As the paratroopers entered the main gateway to the Temple they were gunned down by light machine-gun fire from both sides of the steps. The few commandos who did get down the steps were driven back by a barrage of fire from the building on the south side of the sacred pool. In the control room, a house on the opposite side of the clock-tower, Major-General Brar was waiting with two supporting officers to hear confirmation that the commandos had established positions inside the complex.[27]

File:TANK IN PARKARMA.JPG
An APC used in the operation.

The few commandos left regrouped in the square outside and reported back to Major-General Brar. He ordered them to make another attempt. The commandos were then to be followed by the 10th Battalion of the Guards, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israr Khan. This second commando attack managed to neutralize the machine-gun posts on both sides of the steps and get down on to the parikarma. They were followed by the Guards who came under heavy fire and were not able to make any progress. They radioed for permission to fire back at the buildings on the other side of the tank. That would have meant that the Golden Temple itself, which is in the middle of the pool, would have been in the line of fire. Brar initially refused, but started to receive reports of heavy casualties from the commander of the Guards.

2330 hrs - 01 hrs

Brar again requested tanks after an APC was destroyed by a rocket fired by a Sikh militant. His request was granted and seven tanks rolled into the Golden Temple complex. They cleared the ramparts and later assaulted the main temple in order to neutralize the militants remaining in the structure. The shelling achieved its objective and the primary target of removing militants from the Akal Takht was achieved by 01:00. However, the secondary objective of removing militants from other neighbouring structures went on for a further 24 hours.

Casualties

As per the affidavit filed by retired Brigadier D.V. Rao in court of Harjit Singh Khalsa, judicial magistrate first class, Amritsar, on March 19, 2007, the Indian Army suffered 83 deaths, which included four officers, four Junior Commissioned Officers and 75 other ranks. As per the affidavit, 13 Indian Army officers, 16 JCOs and 220 other ranks were injured in the operation. Indian army recorded 492 civilian deaths inside Golden Temple with 433 persons segregated as "separatists" amongst 1592 persons apprehended.[28][29] During June of 1984, brigadier D.V. Rao served as Commander of 350 Infantry Brigade based in Jalandhar, which formed part of Ninth Infantry Division of Indian Army. The unofficial casualty figures from eye-witness accounts (such as Amnesty International) was much higher.[30]

The Army placed total casualties at:

  • Military : 83 killed, 248 wounded
  • Sikh Casulties : 492 Killed (100 women and 75 children), 86 wounded (7 women and 4 children).[31]

Independent historians placed the figure at:

Aftermath

Main articles: Indira Gandhi assassination and 1984 Anti-Sikh riots
File:Blue star akal takht.jpg
Bullet and shell riddled Akal Takht building after Operation Blue Star

As per the affidavit filed by retired Brigadier D.V. Rao[34] in court of Harjit Singh Khalsa, judicial magistrate first class, Amritsar, on March 19, 2007, the Indian Army suffered 83 deaths, which included four officers, four Junior Commissioned Officers and 75 other ranks. As per the affidavit, 13 Indian Army officers, 16 JCOs and 220 other ranks were injured in the operation. Indian army recorded 492 terrorist deaths inside Golden Temple with 433 persons segregated as "separatists" amongst 1592 persons apprehended.[35][36] Thus the Army officially placed total casualties at:

  • Military : 83 killed, 248 wounded
  • Militants (including civilians): 492 Killed (30 women and 5 children), 86 wounded (7 women and 4 children).[37]

The figure was placed by independent historians at:

  • Military : 700[32]
  • Militants (including civilians): 5000.[32][38]

According to some journalists, several Sikh youths were also killed in crossfire from militants.[39] The unofficial casualty figures from eye-witness accounts (such as Amnesty International) was much higher.[40] An unspecified number of Sikh soldiers resigned from positions across India in protest, with some reports of large-scale pitched battles being fought to bring mutineers under control.[41]

The operation also led to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On October 31 of that year, two of her armed Sikh security officers murdered her.[42] Anti-Sikh riots were triggered by Mrs Gandhi's assassination. The widespread killing of Sikhs, principally in the national capital Delhi but also in other major cities in North India, led to major divisions between the Sikh community and the Indian Government.

General A S Vaidya, the Chief of Army Staff at the time of Operation Blue Star, was also assassinated in 1986 in Pune by two Sikhs, Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha. Both were sentenced to death, and hanged on 7 October 1992.

The army was removed from the Golden Temple later in 1984 under pressure from Sikh demands.[43]

Sikh militants continued to use and occupy the temple compound and on May 1, 1986, Indian paramilitary police entered the temple and arrested 200 militants that had occupied the Golden Temple for more than three months.[44]

On May 2, 1986 the paramilitary police undertook an 12-hour operation to take control of the Golden Temple at Amritsar from several hundred militants, but almost all the major radical leaders managed to escape.[45]

In May 1988, army troops were called in again to remove militants from the . The conflict during May 12-18 resulting in clearing the compound and on May 23, regular worship resumed. On May 29, the government banned both political and military use of the shrines in India. Sikh militants then murdered the head priest on July 26, 1988.

In June 1990, the Indian government ordered the area surrounding the temple to be vacated by local residents to try to stop the militant activity around the temple.[46]

Criticism of the operation

The use of artillery in the congested inner city of Amritsar proved deadly and reckless considering many civilians lived near the Golden Temple. The media blackout throughout the Punjab resulted in widespread doubt regarding the official stories and aided the promotion of hearsay and rumour.[47] The operation is criticised on four main grounds, the choice of time of attack by Government, heavy casualty, loss of property and allegation of HR violation by the Army personnel.

Choice of time to attack by Government

The timing of Operation Blue Star coincided with a Sikh religious day, regarding the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (the founder of Golden Temple), and Sikhs from all over the world visit the temple on this day. In 1736 the Golden Temple was attacked by the Mughal army, resulting in heavy casualties of civilian Sikhs.[48] Attack of Ahmad Shah Abdali on Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) also came on Vaisakhi day when Sikhs gather in large numbers in Amritsar. Many Sikhs view the timing and attack by the Indian Army as an attempt to inflict maximum casualties on Sikhs and demoralize them.[49] In fact one of the reasons for heavy civilian casualty was the choice of day of Operation Blue Star by Government as large number of Sikh followers congregated at the Golden Temple complex during the martyrdom-day of Guru Arjan Dev. The Sikh community's anger and suffering was further increased by comments from leading newspaper editors, such as Ramnath Goenka, terming the operation as " A greater victory than the win over Bangladesh, this is the greatest victory of Mrs. Gandhi".[50] During the operation the Sikh Reference Library caught fire and many rare books and manuscripts were destroyed. The army also confiscated many books a fraction of which was later returned to the rebuilt library.[51]

Media Blackout

Before the attack by army a media blackout was imposed in Punjab.[52] The Times reporter Michael Hamlyn reported that journalists were picked up from their hotels at 5 a.m. in a military bus, taken to the adjoining border of the state of Haryana and "were abandoned there".[52] The main towns in Punjab were put under curfew, transportation was banned, news blackout was imposed and Punjab was "cut off from the outside world".[53]. A group of journalists who later tried to drive into Punjab were stopped at the road block at Punjab border and were threatened to be shot if they proceeded.[52] The Indian nationals who worked with the foreign media were also banned[52]. The press criticized these actions by Government as an "obvious attempt to attack the temple without the eyes of foreign press on them".[54] The Associated Press reporter Brahma Chellaney who managed to stay back and report the atrocities[55] by army was later charged[56] for sedition by the government[57], interrogated and threatened[57].

Allegations of Human Rights violation against the Indian Army

Brahma Chellaney, who then worked as a reporter for the Associated Press, was the only foreign reporter who managed to stay in Amritsar despite the media blackout[58]. The very first non-government news reports from Amritsar were provided by Brahma Challaney on telephone about the causalities and was published in the The Times (London). Chellaney reported that by June 12 1984, 780 dead bodies had already been burned in groups of 30 by the authorities.[58] The number of causalities reported by Chellaney were far more then government reports at that time[59]. Chellaney's reports revealed several other human rights violations[55]. He reported that many dead bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and were shot in their forehead[60][61] . He reported that elderly men who surrendered on the first day of army attack were taken away by army and tortured by pulling their beards, removing their turbans, tying their long hair around their necks and putting sand in their eyes.[62] Chellaney also reported news from a local journalist who saw Sikh youth were made to pull their trousers above their knees, kneel and march on the hot road while the soldiers repeatedly kicked and punched them.[60] Chellaney interviewed a doctor who said he was picked up by the army and forced to conduct postmortems despite the fact he had never done any postmortem examination before and was just an eye specialist .[60] The doctor Challeney interviewed also reported women and children among the victims and called the attack on Golden Temple a "virtual massacre".[60]

Several human rights groups and other journalists claim that Indian Army had severely violated the Human Rights of people of Punjab during Operation Blue Star and subsequent military operations, it is alleged that soon after the Operation Blue Star many Sikh dead bodies were thrown in dump trucks and illegally cremated by the Indian Army.[citation needed] C.K.C Reddy, an Indian journalist writes that

"Whole of Punjab and especially the Golden Temple Complex was turned into a murderous mouse trap from where people could neither escape nor could they seek succor of any kind. The way the dead bodies were disposed off adds to the suspicions regarding the number and nature of the casualties. The bodies of the victims of military operation in Punjab were unceremoniously destroyed without any attempt to identify them and hand them over to their relatives. The government, after the operation, on the other hand, did every thing in its power to cover up the excesses of the army action. The most disturbing thing about the entire operation was that a whole mass of men, women, and children were ordered to be killed merely on the suspicion that some terrorists were operating from the Golden Temple and other Gurdwaras."[63]

Similar accusations of high handedness on part of Indian Army and allegations of HR violation by security forces in Operation Blue Star and subsequent military operations in Punjab has been leveled by Justice V.M. Tarkunde [64], Mary Anne Weaver[65], Ram Narayan Kumar, a noted human rights lawyer[66], Joyce Pettigrew, a Swedish Anthropologist [67] and many others.[68][69]

The army responded to such criticism by simply stating that they "answered the call of duty as disciplined, loyal and dedicated members of the Armed Forces of India....our loyalties are to the nation, the armed forces to which we belong, the uniforms we wear and to the troops we command"[70]

Many other journalist and writers[who?] point out that the wearing out approach taken by Rajiv Gandhi five years later, in Operation Black Thunder when Sikh militants had again taken over the temple complex, was highly successful as they managed to resolve the stand-off peacefully and in hindsight Operation Blue Star could have been averted by using similar blockade tactics. The army responded by stating that "no comparison is possible between the two situations, as "there was no cult figure like Bhindranwale to idolise, and professional military General like Shahbeg Singh to provide for military leadership" and "confidence of militants having been shattered by Operation Blue Star"[70]. Further it is pointed out that the militants in the temple were armed with machine guns, anti tank missiles and rocket launchers and that they strongly resisted the army's attempts to dislodge them from the shrine, and appeared to have planned for a long stand-off, having arranged for water to be supplied from wells within the temple compound and had stocked food provisions that could have lasted months.[70]

References

  1. ^ a b Stevens, Williams (1984-10-30). "India is said to drop prosecution of A. P. reporter in Punjab case =". New York Times. p. 5. Mr. Chellaney was the only reporter for a foreign agency in Amristar during the Golden Temple assault, although he was not present in the temple. He later filed exclusive reports for the A. P. that were published only outside India. Mr. Chellaney reported a death tool of 1,200 at a time when the Indian Government said the figure was 576. He also reported that 8 to 10 Sikhs had been tied up and shot by soldiers. The Government called his dispatches false and inflammatory. The A. P. defended the accuracy of his reports, which were supported by Indian and other press accounts. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Truth on Trial - in India". New York Times. 1984-10-23. pp. A32. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b Hamlyn, Michael (1984-06-12). "Amritsar witness puts death toll at 1000". The Times. p. 7. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ^ Operation BlueStar, 20 Years On
  5. ^ Operation Bluestar, 5 June 1984
  6. ^ Ahmad, Ishtiaq (1996). State, Nation, and Ethnicity in Contemporary South Asia. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 130. ISBN 1855675781. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Praagh, David Van (2003). The Greater game: India's Race With Destiny and China. India: McGill Queen's Press- MQUP. ISBN 0773516395. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&&issueid=85&id=23078&sectionid=3&Itemid=1&page=in&latn=2 10 Political Disgraces
  9. ^ a b Westerlund, David (1996). Questioning The Secular State: The Worldwide Resurgence of Religion in Politics. C. Hurst & Co. p. 1276. ISBN 1850652414. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ Singh, Sangat (1992). The Sikhs In History. Uncommon Books. p. 378. ISBN 8190065009. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ a b Sharma, Cf. Brig. Man Mohan (1998). What Ails The Indian Army. Trishul Publications. pp. 273–75. ISBN 8185384258. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Brar, K.S. (1992). Operation Blue Star: True Story. UBS Publishers Distributors (P), Limited. p. 54. ISBN 8174760687. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ a b Brar, K.S. (1992). Operation Blue Star: True Story. UBS Publishers Distributors (P), Limited. pp. 81–82. ISBN 8174760687. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ a b Ahmed, Ishtiaq (1996). State, Nation, and Ethnicity in Contemporary South Asia. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 130. ISBN 1855675781. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ "The confusion in the Governors house in Chandigarh was made worse by Mrs. Gandhis maintaining contact with Bhindranwale. Her go-between was the President of Punjab Congress, Raghunandan Lal Bhatia...This link, which was well known to officials, enhanced Bhindranwales status and made the Indian administration even more reluctant to grapple with him." Tully, Mark (1985). Amritsar; Mrs. Gandhi's last Battle. New Delhi: Rupa & Co. p. 121. ISBN 81-291-0917-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Blank, Jonah (2000). Arrow of The Blue Skinned God: retracing the Ramayana through India. p. 354. ISBN 0802137334. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ India in 1984: Confrontation, Assassination, and Succession, by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. Asian Survey, 1985 University of California Press
  18. ^ a b Mark Tully, Satish Jacob (1985). Amritsar; Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle. London. pp. 58–59. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ^ a b Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood. Psalms of Terror.
  20. ^ Singh, Tavleen (1984). The Punjab Story. Amarjit Kaur, et.at., 32. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
  22. ^ Longowal said "Whenever the situation becomes ripe for settlement, some violent incident takes place. I think the (Indian) government is behind the murder of the DIG", "(The person behind the murder is) The one who is afraid of losing his seat of power (Darbara Singh)"Indian Express. April 27, 1983. interview with Longowal. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Mark Tully and Satish Jacob, Amritsar -Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle (Calcutta: Rupa & Co. by arrangement with Pan Books, London, 1985)
  24. ^ Kuldip Nayar and Khushwant Singh, Tragedy of Punjab, Vision Books, New Delhi, 1984, page 79.
  25. ^ a b SANT JARNAIL SINGH BHINDRANWALE - LIFE, MISSION, AND MARTYRDOM by Ranbir S. Sandhu, May 1997
  26. ^ City of Death, Time, November 7, 1983.
  27. ^ Indian Army Viewpoint
  28. ^ Army reveals startling facts on Bluestar
  29. ^ 492 civilians died in Bluestar: Brig Rao
  30. ^ Video of interview with an Indian Army Officer who explains details of how the Sikhs fought, and the number of casualties.
  31. ^ Brar, K.S. (1992). Operation Blue Star: True Story. UBS Publishers Distributors (P), Limited. p. 124. ISBN 8174760687. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ a b c d Joshi, Chand (1984). Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality. Vikas. p. 161. ISBN 0706926943. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  33. ^ Singh, Patwant (2000). The Sikhs. Knopf. p. 233. ISBN 0375407286. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ During June of 1984, brigadier D.V. Rao served as Commander of 350 Infantry Brigade based in Jalandhar, which formed part of Ninth Infantry Division of Indian Army.
  35. ^ Army reveals startling facts on Bluestar
  36. ^ 492 civilians died in Bluestar: Brig Rao
  37. ^ Brar, K.S. (1992). Operation Blue Star: True Story. UBS Publishers Distributors (P), Limited. p. 124. ISBN 8174760687. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  38. ^ Singh, Patwant (2000). The Sikhs. Knopf. p. 233. ISBN 0375407286. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  39. ^ Tully, Mark (1985). Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle. J. Cape. p. 169. ISBN 0224023284. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Video of interview with an Indian Army Officer who explains details of how the Sikhs fought, and the number of casualties.
  41. ^ General promises to punish Sikh mutineers
  42. ^ 1984: Indian prime minister shot dead
  43. ^ SIKHS, IN RALLY, PRESS THE ARMY TO QUIT TEMPLE, SANJOY HAZARIKA, THE NEW YORK TIMES, September 3, 1984, Monday
  44. ^ INDIAN POLICEMEN RAID SIKH TEMPLE, STEVEN R. WEISMAN, NEW YORK TIMES, May 1, 1986
  45. ^ NY Times, May 2, 1986
  46. ^ India Uproots Thousands Living Near Sikh Temple, BARBARA CROSSETTE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 3, 1990
  47. ^ Anniversary Issue, India Today, December 26, 2005,p 136.
  48. ^ Gyani, Gian SIngh (1923). Twarikh-i-Guru Khalsa. Patiala. p. 18.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  49. ^ Dhillon, Gurdashan Singh. Truth About Punjab (SGPC White Paper). Amristar: Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.
  50. ^ Singh, Patwant (June {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}), "Alienation Is The Key", Sikh Review, http://www.sikhreview.org/june1994/comment.htm {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/windows/note.htm
  52. ^ a b c d Hamlyn, Michael (1984-06-06). "Journalists removed from Amritsar: Army prepares to enter Sikh shrine". The Times. p. 36. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  53. ^ "Gun battle rages in Sikh holy shrine". The Times. 1984-06-05. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  54. ^ Hamlyn, Michael (1984-06-06). "Journalists removed from Amritsar: Army prepares to enter Sikh shrine". The Times. p. 36. Its is also apparent that the Indian authorities wish to invade the temple without the eyes of the foreign press upon them. No foreign correspondent is being allowed into Punjab now." {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  55. ^ a b Hamlyn, Michael (1984-10-16). "Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities". The Times. p. 8. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  56. ^ Stevens, William K. (1984-17-10). "Reporter faces arrest in India". The New York Times. p. 10. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ a b Hamlyn, Michael (1984-11-27). "Reporter may face sedition charges". The Times. p. 7. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  58. ^ a b Hamlyn, Michael (1984-06-12). "Amritsar witness puts death toll at 1000". The Times. p. 7. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  59. ^ "Toll in assault on Sikh Temple termed vastly underestimated". Miami Herald. 1984-06-11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  60. ^ a b c d Chellaney, Brahma (1984-06-14). "Sikhs in Amritsar 'tied up and shot'". Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple. The Times. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  61. ^ Hamlyn, Michael (1984-10-16). "Arrest ordered of journalist who reported temple atrocities". The Times. p. 8. In a report he filed to his agency, which was used prominently in this newspaper on June 14, he said that witnesses had declared that a number of Sikhs had been found dead with their hands tied behind their backs with their turbans, and that the numbers of those who died in the army assault on the temple were far higher than had been publicly admitted {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  62. ^ Chellaney, Brahma (1984-06-14). "Sikh rebels were shot 'at point-blank range'". Brahma Chellaney, for the Associated Press, was the only foreign correspondent in Amritsar during the storming of the temple. The Times. p. 3. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  63. ^ CKC Reddy, et al, Army Action in Punjab: Prelude & Aftermath, New Delhi: Samata Era Publication, 1984, pp. 46-48
  64. ^ Judge V M Tarkunde, et al, Oppression in Punjab: Report to the Nation, New Delhi: Citizens for Democracy, 1985, pp. 8-10, 18-19
  65. ^ Mary Anne Weaver, The Christian Science Monitor, October 15, 1984)
  66. ^ Ram Narayan Kumar, et al, Reduced to Ashes (Volume One), Asia Forum for Human Rights, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2003, pp. 75)
  67. ^ The Sikhs of Punjab
  68. ^ I.S. Jaijee, Politics of Genocide:1984-1998, Ajanta Publishers, New Delhi, India
  69. ^ Cynthia Mahmood, Fighting for Faith and Nation:Dialogues with Sikh Militants. University of Pennsylvania Press
  70. ^ a b c Brar, K.S. (1992). Operation Blue Star: True Story. UBS Publishers Distributors (P), Limited. p. 156. ISBN 8174760687. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Cite error: The named reference "brar" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

External sources

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