Operation Black Thunder
Topic: Regional Aspirations: J&K, Punjab, the North-East and Accommodation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Operation Black Thunder was the name for security operations in 1986 and May 1988 to drive armed militants out of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The 1988 operation was led by the NSG (National Security Guard), a special anti-terror force. It cleared the shrine without an army assault. It matters because it was seen as a more careful approach after the damage done by Operation Blue Star.
Example
In May 1988 the NSG surrounded the militants inside the Golden Temple and forced them out. The shrine was not harmed the way it had been in 1984. This helped avoid fresh anger among Sikhs.
Don't confuse with
- Operation Blue Star: an army assault on the Golden Temple in June 1984. It damaged the shrine and deeply hurt Sikh feelings. Black Thunder (1988) was led by the NSG, with no army assault.
Related concepts
- Khalistan movement
- Operation Blue Star
- Anti-Sikh riots of 1984
- Nanavati Commission
- Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord