Amritsar: Today marks the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star and Khalistani leaders began raising slogans with posters of Bhindranwale in hand. Dal Khalsa (radical Sikh outfit) took out a remembrance parade carrying Khalistani flags and photographs of damaged Akal Takht and Sikh fighters. The march that began from Burj Akali Phoola Singh culminated at Darbar Sahib to commemorate the military operation that left wounds on the most sacred place for Sikhs.
Tight security across Punjab has been observed with the radical outfit calling for Amritsar bandh today. Police, commandos and paramilitary forces have bee deployed outside the Golden Temple. Additional forces have been deployed in every district of Punjab to ensure peace.
Operation Blue Star was the code name used by the Indian Army for the operation that began on June 1 and ended on June 6, 1984. The military operation was ordered by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to flush out militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale holed up in the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar, claimed several lives and left the shrine and complex damaged.