October 31, 1984: Assassination of Indira Gandhi Sparks Horrific Communal Violence and Unrest in India
The tragic assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, marked a harrowing chapter in India’s history. Executed by her own bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, the brutal act was purportedly in retaliation for the perceived humiliation of the Sikh community and the desecration of the revered Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star earlier that year.
Operation Blue Star, a military mission to eradicate separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, resulted in significant damage to the sacred site and claimed the lives of numerous Sikh civilians, fueling widespread outrage among Sikhs globally. Indira Gandhi, who had authorized the operation, faced vehement criticism and bore the weight of the community’s wrath.
The aftermath of her assassination was catastrophic, plunging the nation into an abyss of violence and hostility. Within a mere three days, an estimated 3,350 Sikhs (according to government figures) fell victim to targeted massacres, with 2,800 lives lost in the national capital alone. The incident left a deep scar on the nation’s collective consciousness, highlighting the fragility of communal harmony and the dire consequences of political turmoil.”
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/oct-31-1984-assassination-of-indira-gandhi-9006876/
Edited: Sakshi Semwal