Operation Black Thunder

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Summary

Operation Black Thunder I and II are two relatively unknown events but are very important. While the Indian government claims it is regretful for invading Amritsar in 1984, they did the very same thing on May 12, 1988, although not on the same scale. The indian government was distraught that "militants" had restored the Akal Takht and assumed control of Amritsar again. This was too much for the government and just as they had 4 years before they laid siege to the foundation of Sikhism.

However, in this operation, though far fewer people died, the effect on Sikhs was the same because even as the Indian government was apologising for the earlier attack it was once again having the audacity to attack the Golden Temple. The operation ended when the Sikhs surrendered in fear of a repeat of Operation Bluestar.

For pictures of this Operation, please visit: http://www.netphotograph.com/viewset.php?id=34

The Operation

Planning for Operation Black Thunder was initiated in early 1988 at Manesar at Aravali hills, 40kms from Delhi by National Security Guards (NSG) under patronage of union Home Minister, rather Ministry of Internal Security. A large model of Sri Darbar Sahib complex was created; practice was carried out at a high school at Tauru and in a college at Nuh in Haryana. Both schools had structures that resembled the parikarma of Sri Darbar Sahib. Weekend visits to Sri Darbar Sahib became a regular feature of the Special Action Group (SAG) of the NSG. They also started growing their hair for operational reasons.

State-sponsored terrorist groups began massive murderous assaults from December 1987 liquidating families of militants and their sympathisers. Their homes were put to fire. The units were placed under the overall charge of Izhar Alam, Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar. Ribeiro had certain reservations and conveniently went on leave to Bombay. The police made regular announcements of ‘recoveries’ of Russian made RPG rockets and Russian surface to air missiles, earlier imported by RAW (India external intelligence agency) from Kabul, from all over Punjab. This served as a prelude to the pursuit of new tougher policy.

Free speech was brutally repressed by the Indian government as the Union Home Ministry gave instructions to media-persons and journalists at Amritsar to behave or face the consequences. Kuldip Singh Arora, Amritsar correspondent of United News of India (UNI) was picked up on April 13, 1988 under the ridiculous National Security Act for meeting militants inside the Golden Temple, a serious charge under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). About 100 other journalists had conducted such interviews and so Amritsar’s Working Journalists Association clearly interpreted this as a signal to fall in line and not to write anything that displeased the government.

After the 25th April the security forces established themselves on several rooftop pickets including the one facing the Clock Tower wherefrom General Sunderji had directed Operation Bluestar. The security forces had in the last couple of months kept the militants inside the complex under observation to prevent their escape.

The time for Operation Black Thunder arrived after the debate in Parliament on Punjab was over in the first week of May.

Despite countless provocations, there was no firing from inside the complex. To prepare the nation, the state-sponsored terrorists fired on Gadi Lohars, a nomad tribe celebrating a marriage at Panipat in Haryana on May 8th killing 13 people. That served the dual purpose of also keeping Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal in check. The following day DIG(CRPF) Sarabdeep Singh Virk chose to take notorious Santokh Singh Kala, a former militant who was now leading a state-sponsored terrorist outfit along with him atop the buildings around the complex. Suffice to say Kala knew exactly how to provoke action between the religious militants and the CRPF and set the ball rolling on behalf of the CRPF.

Rajiv Gandhi tabled eight of eleven meetings regarding Operation Black Thunder. Home Minister Buta Singh and Minister of State for Home P. Chidambaram were in support. After the green light was given Air Force airlifted Special Action Group (SAG) of 1000 commandos of National Security Guards (NSG) and their equipment to Amritsar on May 11 and 12. Meanwhile an exchange of gunfire had gone on intermittently by the opposing forces. 800 pilgrims had been evacuated on May 10 but recitation of gurbani had stopped.

Jasvir Singh Rode was at Punjabi University, Patiala on May 9 but rushed back to Amritsar on hearing of the incidents of shooting. On May 11 the local administration bluffed Rode to take him the following day at 8am to enter the Temple from Santokhsar Gurdwara to restore rituals. Precisely at this time security forces started firing. Rode, Savinder Singh, Jaswant Singh, Kashmira Singh, Bhai Mokham Singh and Gurdev Singh Koanke, former Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht alongside 24 others were prevented from proceeding further. After protests, Rode decided to move ahead despite the firing. Deputy Commissioner Sarabjit Singh Inspector General (Border) Chaman Lal and Senior Superintendent Suresh Arora were present.

Koanke told the police. "You men are liars. It is you who are shooting, not the militants." He was struck with a CRPF rifle butt. Rode and his men were arrested for violating the curfew. The NSG had prepared itself and begun Operation Black Thunder.

Half a dozen militants tried to slip away under cover of darkness when they came under fire--only two men managed to get away. This was followed by a long intense gunfire exchange between militants and security forces. Two Shamsher (Jaguar) jets flew near the temple at the time as the security forces took over Guru Ram Das Serai and ‘neutralised’ two Bungas.

The killing of militants by security forces outside the temple was supplemented with selective killing inside by the infiltrators. For example when of all the people were inside, Jagir Singh - a senior person who was the spokesman of the Panthic Committee came out of room 14 to fetch a pail of water from the holy tank he was shot in the back of the head, obviously from inside the building. Mortally wounded his body fell to the pavement near the sarovar.

On May 15 in response to an appeal by Inspector General (Border) Chaman Lal and Deputy Commissioner Sarabjit Singh to surrender, 151 persons including 17 women and children came out with their hands and weapons in the air. These included Surjit Singh Penta who had, according to official documents, swallowed cyanide.

However others believe he was killed by the police. 46 people, mostly infiltrators then spent 2 or 3 days desecrating the Main Temple of Sri Darbar Sahib with their excreta & later surrendered to K.P.S. Gill on May 18.