Blue Star anniversary: Radical groups clash at Golden Temple, shut down in Amritsar

Amritsar Police on Friday detained at least eight persons belonging to various groups over a clash between task force volunteers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and radical Sikh activists on Friday during the 30th anniversary of the army's Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple.

The military's 1984 assault on the Golden Temple was aimed at flushing out militants holed up inside demanding an independent Sikh homeland.

"We have detained eight persons and more such detentions are likely. Nobody is allowed to force the residents for bandh," Amritsar police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh told Hindustan Times.

At least eight people were injured in the fighting.

After radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa's call for the shutdown, at least 70% of the city's commercial outlets remained closed.

A few people were even forcing shopkeepers to close their shops but were nabbed by the police in the Hall Gate area.

Dal Khalsa had called for Amritsar shutdown to mark the 30th anniversary of the Operation Blue Star.

Swords and sticks were used as scores of men from both sides chased each other outside the Akal Takht building inside the complex, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines - the Harmandar Sahib.

Many people could be seen running for cover to save themselves..

Source: Hindi News

From hindustantimes News