Amritsar, June 8, 2025 — Operation Blue Star remains a deeply painful chapter in India’s history, resonating even after more than four decades. In June 1984, the Indian Army launched the operation to remove Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple. This military action left behind a legacy marked by violence, destruction, and serious human rights violations. Beyond official narratives, sanitation workers and innocent civilians have recently begun revealing the true aftermath of this brutal operation.
Harrowing Experiences of Sanitation Workers
Firstly, Keval Kumar, a former sanitation worker with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, revealed the gruesome reality he and his colleagues faced. Authorities compelled them to remove dead bodies from streets, markets, langar halls, and even inside the sacred Darbar Sahib. Disturbingly, many workers, mostly from marginalized communities, had to carry out this distressing task under the influence of alcohol. Moreover, they handled the corpses of men, women, children, and oldster without any protective gear or respect, loading them into garbage carts like refuse.
Gross Violations of Human Rights and Dignity
Furthermore, authorities provided no safety measures or psychological support for these sanitation workers. Reports show that officials cremated many bodies without proper post-mortem examinations, sometimes en masse, denying families the chance to perform last rites. Officials falsely accused sanitation workers of looting or disrespecting the dead, which created a culture of fear and silence that persists today. Many victims still avoid speaking openly due to the trauma they suffered.
Controversy Over Death Toll and Memorial Tributes
Additionally, debates rage over the actual death toll. While government records state 493 fatalities, independent human rights groups and eyewitnesses estimate between 4,000 and 5,000 deaths. Keval Kumar told the BBC that municipal workers alone removed around 1,000 bodies. Former Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Inder Singh confirmed officials conducted only 536 post-mortems, including eight children. This huge discrepancy raises serious questions about the transparency of official accounts.
On the 41st anniversary of Operation Blue Star, communities across Punjab held memorial services in places like Phagwara and Hoshiarpur to honor the sacrifices of soldiers, police, and civilians. Leaders from organizations such as the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti and Shiv Sena emphasized unity and vigilance against extremist ideologies. The ceremonies ended with prayers for peace and harmony in Punjab.
Also See : Operation Blue Star: The Indian State’s Assault on Sikh Identity
In conclusion, Operation Blue Star not only changed history but also exposed ongoing issues of civil liberties, social inequality, and state accountability. The voices of sanitation workers, long silenced, now demand recognition and justice. Their testimonies remind us of the profound human cost behind this military operation. Operation Blue Star must never be forgotten as India continues to reflect on its lessons.
