Operation Sundown was codename of a covert plan of India's external intelligence agency
Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), in which the
Special Group, which is an ultra-secretive armed unit of the R&AW, was to abduct Sikh extremist leader
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from Guru Nanak Niwas in the
Golden Temple complex,
Amritsar
Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...
.
The operation
The rehearsals for the operation were carried out in the base. But, the operation was never started due to the then
Prime Minister of India
The prime minister of India (IAST: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and their chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the ...
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (; Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was elected as third prime minister of India in 1966 ...
’s rejection.
Other options such as negotiations were opted for instead. The negotiations failed and the law and order situation in Punjab continued to deteriorate. In April 1983,
A.S. Atwal the
Deputy Inspector General in
Punjab Police was murdered by a follower of
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at the steps of
Golden temple.
In June 1984
Operation Blue Star was approved and carried out by the
Indian Army to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the buildings of the
Harmandir Sahib Complex in
Amritsar
Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...
,
Punjab.
Operation Sundown was revealed almost after three decades in January 2014 by
India Today Magazine through investigation of UK's declassified Top Secret documents.
See also
*
Operation Blue Star
*
Special Group (India)
The Special Group (SG) is the special forces unit of Research and Analysis Wing, India's foreign intelligence agency. It is also known as 4 Vikas, 22 SF and 22 SG. The unit is considered to be composed of the most elite soldiers of India and it ...
References
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1983 in India
2014 in India
Sikh terrorism in India
History of Amritsar
Insurgency in Punjab
1984 in India
Indira Gandhi administration
Operations involving Indian special forces
Religious terrorism in Asia
Counterterrorism in India