Pro-Khalistan slogans, Bhinderanwale posters mark Blue Star anniversary at Golden Temple

Amritsar marked the 42nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star with the raising of pro-Khalistan slogans and posters of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale at the Golden Temple. Members of various hardline Sikh organizations gathered at the Akal Takht, Sikhism's supreme temporal and spiritual seat, to commemorate the event.

The Punjab Police implemented a comprehensive security plan across Amritsar and surrounding areas. Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar Sinha reviewed troop deployments, confirming nearly 4,000 police personnel were stationed to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. This included 2,000 officers from outside the district, 2,000 from Amritsar, and five companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) within the city.

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The anniversary of Operation Blue Star is on June 6; in connection with this, numerous programs and events take place, creating a heightened and sensitive security environment. In this context, we have established a comprehensive security grid across Punjab, specifically in Amritsar and its surrounding areas.

Operation Blue Star, which occurred on June 6, 1984, was ordered by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove Sikh militants led by Bhinderanwale from the Golden Temple. Bhinderanwale and his armed followers were killed during the operation, which was heavily criticized and followed months later by Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.

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We held extensive meetings yesterday and today; we also visited the field to inspect the troop deployments... Around 4,000 police personnel have been deployed. We have brought in 2,000 policemen and 30 gazetted officers from outside the district, while another 2,000 personnel from the Amritsar district police force are also stationed here and remain on high alert. Additionally, within Amritsar city, we have deployed 5 companies of the CAPF.