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Sikhs clash at Golden Temple in Amritsar Sikhs clash at Golden Temple in Amritsar
(about 3 hours later)
Clashes have broken out between sword-wielding Sikhs at the Golden Temple in northern India on the 30th anniversary of a notorious army raid in which hundreds of people were killed.Clashes have broken out between sword-wielding Sikhs at the Golden Temple in northern India on the 30th anniversary of a notorious army raid in which hundreds of people were killed.
At least 10 people were wounded in the violence at the temple, the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion, in the city of Amritsar.At least 10 people were wounded in the violence at the temple, the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion, in the city of Amritsar.
Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine on Friday to pay their respects to those killed in the raid on the temple by Indian troops on 6 June 1984 aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland. Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine on Friday to pay their respects to those killed in the raid on the temple by Indian troops on 6 June 1984. The raid was aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland.
"Today we were supposed to have a solemn remembrance for the martyrs of 1984 so what has happened is very sad," said a spokesman for a radical Sikh group called the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) whose supporters were involved in the clashes."Today we were supposed to have a solemn remembrance for the martyrs of 1984 so what has happened is very sad," said a spokesman for a radical Sikh group called the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) whose supporters were involved in the clashes.
"The temple has once again been dishonoured today," the spokesman Prem Singh Chandumajra told reporters."The temple has once again been dishonoured today," the spokesman Prem Singh Chandumajra told reporters.
Television footage showed two groups of Sikhs wearing blue, yellow and orange turbans chasing each other with swords on the marbled staircase of the shrine in Punjab state.Television footage showed two groups of Sikhs wearing blue, yellow and orange turbans chasing each other with swords on the marbled staircase of the shrine in Punjab state.
The clashes allegedly broke out after members of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) insisted they be allowed to address the crowds first.The clashes allegedly broke out after members of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) insisted they be allowed to address the crowds first.
"Members of a radical outfit confronted the temple's task force, triggering the fight. Some 10 people have been injured, two of them are being treated in hospital," a police officer in charge of temple safety told Agence-France Presse. "Members of a radical outfit confronted the temple's taskforce, triggering the fight. Some 10 people have been injured, two of them are being treated in hospital," a police officer in charge of temple safety told Agence-France Presse.
He said the situation was now under control, with extra security deployed inside the temple.He said the situation was now under control, with extra security deployed inside the temple.
Amarinder Singh, a prominent political leader from Punjab, condemned the violence.Amarinder Singh, a prominent political leader from Punjab, condemned the violence.
"It is very shameful. There is no provision for law and order there," Singh, who belongs to the Congress party, told reporters. "It is unfortunate that such a thing is happening at our religious site.""It is very shameful. There is no provision for law and order there," Singh, who belongs to the Congress party, told reporters. "It is unfortunate that such a thing is happening at our religious site."
At least 400 people were killed in the army's infamous Operation Blue Star, which enraged Sikhs who accused the troops of desecrating the shrine.At least 400 people were killed in the army's infamous Operation Blue Star, which enraged Sikhs who accused the troops of desecrating the shrine.
India's then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards in October 1984 in revenge for the operation. Her assassination triggered mass anti-Sikh riots in which about 3,000 people were killed, many of them on the streets of Delhi.India's then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards in October 1984 in revenge for the operation. Her assassination triggered mass anti-Sikh riots in which about 3,000 people were killed, many of them on the streets of Delhi.
On Thursday, supporters of several radical groups staged a Genocide Remembrance parade around the streets of Amritsar, shouting slogans to hail the "martyrs" of 1984.On Thursday, supporters of several radical groups staged a Genocide Remembrance parade around the streets of Amritsar, shouting slogans to hail the "martyrs" of 1984.
Despite the outrage over the raid, support for an independent "Khalistan", or the land of the pure, has waned in the last three decades. Analysts say Punjab's geopolitical significance – the landlocked region shares borders with Pakistan and restive Kashmir – means sovereignty is almost impossible.Despite the outrage over the raid, support for an independent "Khalistan", or the land of the pure, has waned in the last three decades. Analysts say Punjab's geopolitical significance – the landlocked region shares borders with Pakistan and restive Kashmir – means sovereignty is almost impossible.
However support for the independence movement remains strong among sections of the Sikh diaspora in Britain, Canada and the United States.However support for the independence movement remains strong among sections of the Sikh diaspora in Britain, Canada and the United States.
Kuldip Singh Brar, the commander of Operation Blue Star, was seriously injured in 2012 when he was stabbed on a London street. A Sikh gang was found guilty of the attack, which was carried out to avenge the 1984 raid.Kuldip Singh Brar, the commander of Operation Blue Star, was seriously injured in 2012 when he was stabbed on a London street. A Sikh gang was found guilty of the attack, which was carried out to avenge the 1984 raid.