The Sikh Genocide

As we discussed the horrible genocide of the Jews during World War II, I feel that it is important to bring awareness to other genocides around the world. In addition, in today's current news, we hear about India's killing of Sikh activists in Canada and the US. Just this week, the FBI released that it caught an Indian agent attempting to assassinate a Sikh advocate, making this issue even more relevant.

After countless attempts to snuff out Sikhs in Punjab, India's Prime Minister - Indira Gandhi launched a full-scale attack on the central community center, Harmandir Sahib in an attempt to just kill a few Sikh "terrorists" in 1984. Although India implemented a full media blackout and killed every journalist who documented the events, the media was able to get through and document the genocide. Over 10 days, in an operation named "Operation Bluestar," the Indian Army murdered over 10,000 children, men, and women. Not only were many killed, but countless one-of-a-kind documents were destroyed after the Army set fire to the Sikh Reference Library.

Day 1 (June 1st): The Indian Army surrounded the Harmandir Sahib Complex and without warning killed 8 people.

Day 2 (June 2nd): All telephone lines are disconnected from the Complex and the entire state of Punjab is cut off from the rest of the world. This ensures that journalists and other news outlets cannot report the carnage that is soon to be unleashed.

Day 3 (June 3rd): The army guarantees that no person leaves the area, but continues to allow people in. A 36-hour curfew is imposed and thousands are trapped inside.

Day 4 (June 4th): In the early morning, the Army begins shelling the Complex without warning. Devinder Singh Duggal, head of the Sikh Reference Library and an eyewitness to these events states:
"Helicopters also guided the firing squads of the Army by making a circle of light around the targets. Immediately after these circles, the cannonball would land causing havoc."

Day 5 (June 5th): Army tanks and APCs are smashed through the streets and unending destruction and murder take place.

Day 6 (June 6th): The Army enters the Akal Takhat - a building that represents the political sovereignty of the Sikhs. Sikh fighters fought bravely, but the Takhat was reduced to rubble and all those inside died.

Day 7 (June 7th): The Sikh Reference Library is burnt to the ground and its one-of-a-kind historical documents are destroyed.

Day 8 (June 8th): Medical workers are threatened by soldiers - they are told that if they help Sikhs who end up in hospitals, they will be shot.

Day 9 (June 9th): Gandhi orders the Army to shoot unarmed protestors in New Delhi who have heard of these events.

Day 10 (June 10th): The last Sikh fighters are killed and the Complex is put under full occupational control.

Some claim that this was a small-scale mission to remove a few Khalistani nationalists, but a mock complex of the Harmandir Sahib was built upon which the Indian Army practiced their assault months before - long before the "terrorists" in question had moved into that area. Furthermore, almost a year before the attack, India rebuilt the passageways in the complex, making them wider and able to fit tanks. Clearly, this was an attempt to break the spirit of Sikhs who are continuously persecuted for their religion in India. In November of 1984, the genocide continued. Right now, the government is starving Punjab (the homeland of the Sikhs) of its water, starting a whole new version of genocide. 

I hope that more and more awareness can be made about the mass killings of certain groups across the world so that peace and freedom can be achieved.