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Revision as of 05:38, 13 May 2004 by 210.210.15.18 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the leader of Damdami taksal, aSikh organization based in the Punjab. He became famous in the late 1970s as a religious preacher. He also got involved in state politics and revived the demand of a separate Sikh state. His influence grew so fast that the political leadership saw him as danger to themselves.
Bhindranwale established his headquarters in the Golden Temple, located in Amritsar and began fortifying the complex with arms as they knew the government would try to uproot his following. The Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, decided to storm the temple to have him evicted, on a day when many sikh pilgrims would be present to commemorate the martyrdom of their fifth guru. In order to flush out the extremists, a 15,000 strong contingent of the Indian armed forces attacked the golden temple with heavy artillery and tanks. A fierce battle broke out in which hundreds of people died including Bhindranwale. Bhindranwale became a martyr in the eyes of Sikh seperatists around the world.