In October 1984, a wave of organized violence erupted against the Sikh community, particularly in Delhi. The violence began in the aftermath of the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, who sought to avenge the Indian government’s military operation in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. Mobs rampaged through Sikh neighborhoods, killing thousands of Sikhs, looting homes, and setting homes, businesses, and places of worship ablaze. The violence was fueled by political and religious tensions, with some political leaders exploiting the situation for their own goals. The 1984 Sikh Massacre left deep scars within the Sikh community and strained communal relations in India.
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