The militants made their headquarters inside the Sikh holy shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Subsequently, the leadership of the movement underwent a shift from the moderate Akali faction to more radical elements, ultimately culminating in an armed insurgency. These militants established their base within the revered Sikh sanctuary, the Golden Temple situated in Amritsar, which they fortified into an armed stronghold. The turning point came in June 1984 when the Government of India executed 'Operation Blue Star', a military operation carried out within the precincts of the Golden Temple. While this operation succeeded in dislodging the militants, it also inflicted significant damage upon the historically significant temple and inflicted deep wounds upon the sentiments of the Sikh community. A substantial number of Sikhs within India and abroad perceived this military action as an assault on their religious beliefs, thereby amplifying the momentum of militant and extremist factions. |
