Operation Black Thunder

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Operation Black Thunder is the name given to several operations that took place in India in late 1980s to flush out remaining Sikh extremists from Akal Takht^[1].

Like Operation Blue Star, the attack was on Khalistani militants who were using the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab as a base. The major Operation Black Thunder took place on April 30, 1986. NSG commandoes stormed the Golden Temple. Operation Black Thunder II (sometimes just referred to as Operation Black Thunder) took place began May 12, 1988 in Amritsar and ended with the surrender of the militants on May 18.

While Operation Blue Star was widely considered poorly executed due to the casualties suffered by the assault force and the damage done to both the temple itself and attitude of Sikhs toward the government (resulting in the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards and anti-Sikh riots), Operation Black Thunder was far more successful with the blockade tactics paying rich dividends, with only two wounded Black Cats, and has been credited with breaking the back of the Sikh separatist

[edit] References

1. ^ National Security Guards