Golden Temple Massacre Anniversary: India's Sword-wielding Sikhs Clash In Amritsar (PICTURES)
The Moment Sword-Wielding Sikhs Clashed At India's Golden Temple
The Huffington Post UK
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This is the dramatic moment a violent sword battle broke out at India's Golden Temple during a special prayer ceremony to mark a government massacre that took place there 30 years ago.
The dramatic clashes marred the anniversary of the notorious army raid – operation Blue Star – which was carried out to flush out the Sikh militants from the shrine.
Two groups of Sikhs sporting blue and saffron turbans appeared to chase each other with swords on the marbled staircase of the revered shrine in Punjab state.
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According to reports, the fight broke out over who would speak first at the ceremony at Sikhism's holiest temple and that a scuffle broke out involving a microphone.
At least two people were reportedly wounded in the violence at the temple in the city of Amritsar.
"Today we were supposed to have a solemn remembrance for the martyrs of 1984, so what has happened is very sad," Prem Singh Chandumajra, a spokesman for Punjab state's ruling party Shiromani Akali Dal, told reporters.
"The Temple has once again been dishonoured today," he added.
Sword fight at India’s Golden Temple on raid anniversary
(01 of10)
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Hundreds had gathered at the shrine to remember those killed in the June 6 raid 30 years ago. (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of10)
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At least two people were wounded in the violence (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of10)
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Sikh activists clash with members of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of10)
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Sikh activists hold posters as they protest during commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of10)
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Trouble started when Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann demanded to address the gathering (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of10)
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Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects to those killed in the June 6 1984 raid (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of10)
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The 1984 military operation sparked off a chain of events that led to the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of10)
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Members of Sikh radical groups clash with SGPC supporters (EPA) (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of10)
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The situation was made worse as police are not permitted inside the Golden Temple (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of10)
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A senior police official has said the situation had been brought under control (credit:Getty Images)