Operation Sundown
Operation Sundown was codename of a covert plan of India's secret service Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), in which Special Group of R&AW's armed units was to abduct Sikh leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from Guru Nanak Niwas, near Darbar Sahib Amritsar (also called the Golden Temple of Amritsar).[1]
The plans of Operation Sundown were finalized in December 1983 but it was withdrawn in April 1984 about two month before Operation Blue Star, in which Indian Army invaded Darbar Sahib Amritsar in June 1984.[2]
Operation Sundown was revealed almost after three decades in January 2014 by India Today Magazine through investigation of UK's declassified Top Secret documents.
The disclosure of Operation Sundown has reaffirmed the claim of the Sikh nation that Operation Blue Star or the armed attack on Darbar Sahib by India was result of pre-made plan and there was no immediate or circumstantial compelling reasons that had made the attack inevitable, as was maintained by the Indian state.[3] UK's Labour Party MP Tom Watson has taken strong notice of disclosure of Operation Sundown as the recently declassified documents of UK had revealed British involvement in planning of these controversial and covert Indian operations against the Sikhs.[4] [5]
References
- ^ Unnithan, Sandeep. "Indira Gandhi considered secret commando raid before Operation Bluestar". India Today. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ Singh, Parmjeet. "Operation Sundown – Plan to abduct Sant Bhindranwale from Guru Nanak Niwas in Dec. 1983 – More chapters of black history of India coming into light". Sikh Siyasat News. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ Singh, Parmjeet. "Operation Sundown – Plan to abduct Sant Bhindranwale from Guru Nanak Niwas in Dec. 1983 – More chapters of black history of India coming into light". Sikh Siyasat News. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "British MP talks about Operation Sundown and Operation Blue Star". Headlines Today. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ Singh, Parmjeet. "UK: MP Tom Watson reacts to India Today story about Sundown Operation, To seek statement from House of Commons". Sikh Siyasat News. Retrieved 2 February 2014.