Operation Black Thunder
Encyclopedia
Operation Black Thunder is the name given to two operations that took place in India
in the late 1980s to flush out remaining Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple
using 'Black Cat' commandos of the National Security Guards
Like Operation Blue Star
, these attacks were on Khalistani militants who were using the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
as a base.
commandos stormed the Golden Temple along with 700 Border Security Force
troops and captured about 300 separatists. Only 1 person was killed and 2 were injured. The operation, which lasted eight hours, was approved by then Chief minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala
of Shiromani Akali Dal
.
and ended with the surrender of the militants on 18 May. The operation was commanded by Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
who was the DGP of Punjab Police. Sniper
s were used in this operation. Compared to Operation Blue Star
, little damage was inflicted on the Golden Temple. In what was reported as a successful operation, around 200 millitants surrendered, 41 were killed.
Gill stated that he did not want to repeat the mistakes made by the Indian army during Operation Blue Star.
This operation was described as a severe setback to the Khalistan movement
.
In contrast to prior operations, minimum force was used under full public scrutiny. It is remembered for the free access the news media was provided unlike during Operation Blue Star
. The day after the militants surrendered nine reporters were allowed into the Temple complex. Kirtan
was resumed at the Golden Temple on 23 May 1988 after a two week break during this operation.
While Operation Blue Star was widely considered poorly executed due to the casualties suffered by the assault force and the damage done to both the temple and attitude of Sikhs toward the government (resulting in the assassination
of Indira Gandhi
by her bodyguards and anti-Sikh riots), Operation Black Thunder was far more successful with the blockade
tactics paying rich dividends, with only two wounded Black Cats
, and has been credited with breaking the back of the Sikh separatist movement. Soon after this operation the Indian Government banned the use of religious shrines for political and military purposes and increased penalties for the possession and use of illegal weapons, as part of its strategy to fight extremism in the Punjab.
In 2002 Sarabjit Singh who was the Deputy Commissioner
of Amritsar at the time published a book "Operation Black Thunder: An Eyewitness Account of Terrorism in Punjab". The account was criticized by Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
who claimed that the operation was initially called "Operation Gill" before being renamed "Operation Black Thunder".
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the late 1980s to flush out remaining Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
using 'Black Cat' commandos of the National Security Guards
National Security Guards
The National Security Guard is a Special Response Unit in India that has primarily been utilized for counter-terrorism activities and was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986...
Like Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
, these attacks were on Khalistani militants who were using the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
as a base.
Operation Black Thunder I
The first Operation Black Thunder took place on 30 April 1986. About 300 National Security GuardsNational Security Guards
The National Security Guard is a Special Response Unit in India that has primarily been utilized for counter-terrorism activities and was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986...
commandos stormed the Golden Temple along with 700 Border Security Force
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
troops and captured about 300 separatists. Only 1 person was killed and 2 were injured. The operation, which lasted eight hours, was approved by then Chief minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala
Surjit Singh Barnala
Surjit Singh Barnala is an Indian politician from Punjab. During his career in Indian politics, he has been Governor of four states, Chief Minister of Punjab, a minister in the union cabinet twice and a vice-presidential candidate once.-Early life:Barnala was born in Ateli village, which was then...
of Shiromani Akali Dal
Shiromani Akali Dal
The Shiromani Akali Dal , translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal...
.
Operation Black Thunder II
Operation Black Thunder II (sometimes just referred to as Operation Black Thunder) began on 9 May 1988 in AmritsarAmritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
and ended with the surrender of the militants on 18 May. The operation was commanded by Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill served twice as Director General of Police Punjab, where he is credited with having brought the Punjab insurgency under control, and while the BBC reports that many see Gill as a hero, there are accusations that Gill and the forces under his command were responsible for...
who was the DGP of Punjab Police. Sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s were used in this operation. Compared to Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
, little damage was inflicted on the Golden Temple. In what was reported as a successful operation, around 200 millitants surrendered, 41 were killed.
Gill stated that he did not want to repeat the mistakes made by the Indian army during Operation Blue Star.
This operation was described as a severe setback to the Khalistan movement
Khalistan movement
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
.
In contrast to prior operations, minimum force was used under full public scrutiny. It is remembered for the free access the news media was provided unlike during Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star ) 3– 6 June 1984 was an Indian military operation, ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar...
. The day after the militants surrendered nine reporters were allowed into the Temple complex. Kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
was resumed at the Golden Temple on 23 May 1988 after a two week break during this operation.
While Operation Blue Star was widely considered poorly executed due to the casualties suffered by the assault force and the damage done to both the temple and attitude of Sikhs toward the government (resulting in the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
by her bodyguards and anti-Sikh riots), Operation Black Thunder was far more successful with the blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
tactics paying rich dividends, with only two wounded Black Cats
National Security Guards
The National Security Guard is a Special Response Unit in India that has primarily been utilized for counter-terrorism activities and was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986...
, and has been credited with breaking the back of the Sikh separatist movement. Soon after this operation the Indian Government banned the use of religious shrines for political and military purposes and increased penalties for the possession and use of illegal weapons, as part of its strategy to fight extremism in the Punjab.
In 2002 Sarabjit Singh who was the Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner (India)
The deputy commissioner or district magistrate or district collector or district magistrate and collector is the head of the revenue administration of an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of...
of Amritsar at the time published a book "Operation Black Thunder: An Eyewitness Account of Terrorism in Punjab". The account was criticized by Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill served twice as Director General of Police Punjab, where he is credited with having brought the Punjab insurgency under control, and while the BBC reports that many see Gill as a hero, there are accusations that Gill and the forces under his command were responsible for...
who claimed that the operation was initially called "Operation Gill" before being renamed "Operation Black Thunder".