03-21-2007, 03:56 AM
Army reveals startling facts on Bluestar
Says Longowal surrendered
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 19
The Army has come on record for the first time, giving startling facts on the infamous Operation Bluestar in June 1984, including the break-up of the casualties of officers, civilians and militants, apart from the persons who had surrendered.
In his affidavit, D.V. Rao (68), a retired Brigadier, filed in the court of Harjit Singh Khalsa, civil judge (junior div)-cum-judicial magistrate first class, revealed that the then SAD president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and his colleagues had surrendered before the Army.
It reads, "The unit commander received information from the two civilians that H.S. Longowal with his colleagues were in the SGPC building and were willing to surrender."
On this, Brigadier Rao deputed senior officers to make arrangements to take them safely and lodge them in the Circuit House.
Brigadier Rao submitted evidence by way of an affidavit in the court of civil judge senior division in connection with the suit filed by some Jodhpur detainees against the Union of India and others for recovery.
Brigadier Rao, who is currently working in the Training Institute of Hyderabad, stated that in June 1984 he was posted as Commander, 350 Infantry Brigade in Jalandhar which was part of the Ninth Infantry Division.
He was called by the civil administration to assist the civil authorities in clearing the Golden Temple complex from terrorists and to recover all illegal arms ammunitions, explosives etc from the complex.
He stated that all major buildings in the Golden Temple were heavily fortified when he reached Amritsar on May 30, 1984.
The Army under the command of Brigadier Rao was ordered to undertake Operation Bluestar by the GOC Ninth Infantry division on the directions of the Punjab Government.
Brigadier Rao, in his affidavit, stated that special instructions were given to the troops that no weapons should be fired at Shri Harmandar Sahib and heavy machine guns were not to be taken.
The troops would not wear boots but caps and other uniform. The instructions were clear that troops would respect Shri Harmandar Sahib with proper regards like they do in their temples. They would fire in self-defence only.
However, as the troops advanced, terrorists opened fire from all places, leading to heavy casualties of forces.
The Army suffered 83 deaths which included four officers, four JCOs and 75 other ranks while 13 officers, 16 JCOs and 220 other ranks sustained injuries. The casualties to the civilians inside Golden Temple were 492 dead. The Army had apprehended 433 persons who were segregated as terrorists from total of 1592 persons apprehended.
S.S. Sood, lawyer for the Jodhpur detainees, said he would 'smash' the affidavit during the next hearing on April 17 at the time of cross-examination.
He said Brigadier Rao, who could not appear today, was likely arrive here on the date fixed by the court.
Says Longowal surrendered
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 19
The Army has come on record for the first time, giving startling facts on the infamous Operation Bluestar in June 1984, including the break-up of the casualties of officers, civilians and militants, apart from the persons who had surrendered.
In his affidavit, D.V. Rao (68), a retired Brigadier, filed in the court of Harjit Singh Khalsa, civil judge (junior div)-cum-judicial magistrate first class, revealed that the then SAD president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and his colleagues had surrendered before the Army.
It reads, "The unit commander received information from the two civilians that H.S. Longowal with his colleagues were in the SGPC building and were willing to surrender."
On this, Brigadier Rao deputed senior officers to make arrangements to take them safely and lodge them in the Circuit House.
Brigadier Rao submitted evidence by way of an affidavit in the court of civil judge senior division in connection with the suit filed by some Jodhpur detainees against the Union of India and others for recovery.
Brigadier Rao, who is currently working in the Training Institute of Hyderabad, stated that in June 1984 he was posted as Commander, 350 Infantry Brigade in Jalandhar which was part of the Ninth Infantry Division.
He was called by the civil administration to assist the civil authorities in clearing the Golden Temple complex from terrorists and to recover all illegal arms ammunitions, explosives etc from the complex.
He stated that all major buildings in the Golden Temple were heavily fortified when he reached Amritsar on May 30, 1984.
The Army under the command of Brigadier Rao was ordered to undertake Operation Bluestar by the GOC Ninth Infantry division on the directions of the Punjab Government.
Brigadier Rao, in his affidavit, stated that special instructions were given to the troops that no weapons should be fired at Shri Harmandar Sahib and heavy machine guns were not to be taken.
The troops would not wear boots but caps and other uniform. The instructions were clear that troops would respect Shri Harmandar Sahib with proper regards like they do in their temples. They would fire in self-defence only.
However, as the troops advanced, terrorists opened fire from all places, leading to heavy casualties of forces.
The Army suffered 83 deaths which included four officers, four JCOs and 75 other ranks while 13 officers, 16 JCOs and 220 other ranks sustained injuries. The casualties to the civilians inside Golden Temple were 492 dead. The Army had apprehended 433 persons who were segregated as terrorists from total of 1592 persons apprehended.
S.S. Sood, lawyer for the Jodhpur detainees, said he would 'smash' the affidavit during the next hearing on April 17 at the time of cross-examination.
He said Brigadier Rao, who could not appear today, was likely arrive here on the date fixed by the court.