Extraordinary sword fight at India’s Golden Temple on 30th anniversary of raid

Sword-wielding Sikhs clashed inside the compound of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, on Friday, the 30th anniversary of a controversial army raid in which hundreds of people were killed. Television showed dramatic footage of Sikhs rushing out of their religion’s holiest shrine brandishing their swords against each other in a violent confrontation; several people were injured. Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects to those killed in the June 6, 1984, raid of the temple by Indian troops that was aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland.

The violent clashes will be investigated and action will be taken against those who are accused.

Giani Gurbachan Singh, a leader of the elected body that manages Sikh temples

A police official said the clashes were triggered by a minor argument between temple employees and an unnamed fringe Sikh group when commemorating the victims of the 1984 temple raid.

World Golden Temple