Israel Nabs Boat Smuggling Weapons on Dead Sea

JERUSALEM - The Israeli military and police captured a boat on the Dead Sea which was trying to smuggle weapons from Jordan, and detained two Palestinians on board, officials said on July 25.

The Israeli military said the boat was smuggling weapons from Jordan and that 10 Kalashnikov assault rifles and 10 magazines were found on board the dinghy.

"This was effectively a smuggling attempt from Jordan to the (Palestinian) territories. They were stopped at dawn. There were 10 Kalashnikovs, and 10 full magazines in the boat," an Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP.

She said the men detained, who were being questioned by police, were Palestinians from the West Bank.

The Dead Sea is the lowest place in the world and it stretches some 43 miles along the border with Jordan, while its northern and western shores touch Israel and the West Bank.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that the boat had come from Jordan.

"There is an ongoing police investigation involving a number of arms that were attempted to be smuggled from Jordan," he told AFP. "Two suspects have been arrested and are being questioned. The arrests were made this morning and a number of weapons were confiscated."

Israel's army radio said the vessel was a dinghy that had come from Jordan and was trying to traffic arms into the West Bank.

Very few vessels are able to sail on the inland lake. Due to the density of the water - the Dead Sea has a salt and mineral content which is seven times more concentrated than sea water - boats float very high and run a considerable risk of capsizing.

It was not the first time the army has stopped a boat containing weapons on the Dead Sea, although such attempts are rare.

In October 2006, Israeli troops thwarted an attempt to smuggle weapons and drugs from Jordan into Israel via the Dead Sea.

A military patrol spotted an inflatable craft approaching from Jordan and gave chase, arresting the two men on board - an Israeli Bedouin from Khirbet Khasif in the southern Negev desert, and a Palestinian resident of Jordan.

Months later, media reports said the navy had started looking into the possibility of organising regular patrols on the sea in an bid to prevent the infiltration of people and weapons from Jordan into the Palestinian territories.

Because of the high salinity of the water, tests were being conducted to examine what kind of patrol vessel could withstand erosion from the salt, they said.

In February 1998, the Israeli army has arrested a Palestinian man after discovering a large quantity of arms on the northern coast of the Dead Sea which had been brought in from Jordan in two motor boats.

3 U.S. Weapons Move Toward Frontlines

A lighter 60mm mortar is gun-up, new tank ammo is loaded but in a tactical pause, and the lightweight .50-caliber machine gun is clearing a considerable jam. Such is the status of three key weapon and munitions programs by the U.S. Army.

The service awarded ATK a $77 million, three-year contract to develop and qualify the M829E4 120mm Advanced Kinetic Energy tactical tank round, a 5th-generation munition meant to be much more lethal against faraway targets with advanced explosive reactive armor.

"This round provides added kill capability without added responsibility," said Craig Aakhus, ATK's engineering director for tank ammo.

But its greatest threat may not be on the battlefield. Congress in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act ordered a cost-benefit analysis of future M1 Abrams munitions "to determine the proper investment to be made in tank munitions, including beyond-line-of-sight technology." The analysis will address predicted operational performance of each munition in close-, mid- and long-range uses, and beyond line of sight, and must include the Advanced Kinetic Energy round, as well as the Mid-Range Munition and Advanced Multipurpose Program.

The analysis was due by April 15, but the Army was allowed to push that back. Service officials did not respond when asked when the new report would be presented.

Jeff Janey, ATK's director for strategy and business development, was confident that the round's "leap ahead in capability" will more than cover its "incremental cost increase."

Since 1980, ATK has developed 10 of the 12 tank rounds and delivered more than 4 million tactical and training rounds to the Army, Marines and allied militaries.

ATK demonstrated in Phase I of testing that the Advanced Kinetic Energy round can meet all threshold requirements. Reliability will be put to the test over the next 31 months, with a critical design review coming about 20 months in. A low-rate initial production of 800 rounds will follow Phase II, with live-fire tests at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. If all goes according to plan, production of about 4,200 rounds will begin in the summer of 2014.

Still, the armor force of the future remains in a confusing quagmire. On one hand, there is much debate as to where - and in what quantity - tanks fit into future operations. Military and congressional leaders alike have increasingly pushed for an expeditionary Army centered on low-intensity, counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, with fewer heavy forces sitting in a peripheral stand-by.

The Combat Vehicle Portfolio review stands as the primary factor for finding the right force. The Army this summer asked Congress to divert $124.5 million slated for a materiel development decision for the Abrams tank until the review is completed, which is expected at any time.

The Army also looks to save money by shutting down tank production lines for the first time since 1941.

Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, at a May 18 Senate subcommittee hearing on defense appropriations, said though shutting down the plant and losing that "expert force" has undeniable costs, budget considerations required it, particularly since the Abrams inventory "is among the most modern of any of our equipment," with an average age of just over two years old, and keeping the plant open with minimum production was not fiscally responsible.

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee didn't agree; it added $272 million to the Army's budget request and ordered the service to buy more tanks. In addition, 120 lawmakers in May signed a bipartisan letter arguing the Army would save more money keeping the production line open rather than closing it and paying the associated costs. It will cost General Dynamics $380 million to shut down the plant and mothball the equipment, and an additional $1.3 billion to restart production, said Mike Cannon, General Dynamics' senior vice president for ground combat systems.

At the proposed end of production in 2013, the Army's tank fleet will include 1,547 M1A2 System Enhance Package tanks, mostly fielded to active units, and 791 M1A1 tanks, all fielded to National Guard units.

The Army in July also asked for an extra $31 million for the Abrams Upgrade Program. The tanks are experiencing greater-than-expected washout rates in regard to gun tubes, engines, transmissions, final drives, high hard armor plates in the sponson area, ammunition doors and rails.

GUNS, MORTARS

Low-rate initial production of 800 XM806 lightweight .50-caliber machine guns started in February. A pierced primer during limited user testing halted progress, said Lt. Col. Thomas Ryan, product manager of crew-served weapons for Program Executive Office Soldier. Delivery, which was expected by 2014, is now delayed 17 months.

While no one likes a delay, finding this fault early in the process has allowed the Army to build a more reliable and durable weapon, Ryan said. The service dropped an additional $45 million on a re-engineered bolt, adjustments to the fixed head space and new tests. Officials have put 300,000 rounds downrange and the results have been strong.

The XM806 cuts the weight of the 128-pound M2 by half and reduces recoil by 60 percent. It also boasts an effective range of 2,000 meters, 170 better than the M2. The machine gun, which has a manual safety, allows for quick barrel changes that do not require adjustments for head space and timing.

Relief also is on the way for the A-gunner tapped to carry the tripod. The XM205 weighs 13 pounds less than the 44-pound M3 now being carried. The XM205 collapses to less than 50 percent of deployed height.

Trigger pullers aren't the only ones getting some relief. The 1st Special Forces Group in Fort Lewis, Wash., has become the first unit to receive the latest M224A1 60mm Lightweight Company Mortar System. The new mortar knocks 20 percent off its predecessor's 46-pound weight while maintaining its max range, which is better than two miles. This was made possible by cutting out a few components and using a nickel-based super alloy called Inconel to make cannon tubes. The material is lighter, more durable, and needs less maintenance, officials said.

The Army will replace all 1,550 of its 60mm mortars with this new system by 2014, officials said. Ë

Toxins Grounded F-22s: Sources

The U.S. Air Force's fleet of F-22 Raptor fighters has been grounded since May 3 due to toxins entering the cockpit via the aircraft's life support systems, sources with extensive F-22 experience said.

Service leaders grounded the stealthy twin-engine fighter after pilots suffered "hypoxialike symptoms" on 14 occasions. The incidents affected Raptor pilots at six of seven F-22 bases; the exception is Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

But despite an investigation that has spanned nearly three months, no one yet knows what toxin or combinations of toxins might have caused the incidents, nor is it clear exactly how the chemicals are entering the pilots' air supply, sources said.

Toxins found in pilots' blood include oil fumes, residue from burned polyalphaolefin (PAO) anti-freeze, and, in one case, propane. Carbon monoxide, which leaves the blood quickly, is also suspected.

"There is a lot of nasty stuff getting pumped into the pilots' bloodstream through what they're breathing from that OBOGS [On-Board Oxygen Generation System]. That's fact," one former F-22 pilot said. "How bad it is, what type it is, exactly how much of it, how long - all these things have not been answered."

The blood tests were performed after each of the 14 incidents in which pilots reported various cognitive dysfunctions and other symptoms of hypoxia. One couldn't remember how to change radio frequencies. Another scraped trees on his final approach to the runway - and later could not recall the incident.

"These guys are getting tested for toxins and they've [gotten] toxins out of their bloodstreams," the source said. "One of the guys was expelling propane."

This source, along with the others, requested anonymity for fear of retribution.

The line of inquiry may shed new light on the death of Capt. Jeff "Bong" Haney, a 525th Fighter Squadron pilot who was killed when his F-22 crashed last November near Anchorage. Sources said that in Haney's last few radio calls before his jet disappeared, he sounded drunk, a classic sign of hypoxia. Haney was known as a prodigiously skilled aviator who was in line to attend the elite Air Force Weapons School.

Air Force officials have said they have not yet completed the investigation into the crash.

Asked for comment about the possibility that F-22 pilots had been exposed to carbon monoxide, an Air Force spokesman, Maj. Chad Steffey said, "The safety of our aircrews is paramount, and the Air Force continues to carefully study all factors of F-22 flight safety."

Asked about other toxins, Steffey referred questions to the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., where officials did not repond by press time.

Officials with Lockheed Martin, which builds the aircraft, said they are cooperating with the investigation but cannot comment further.

Carbon Monoxide?

Beside the various toxins found in the pilots' blood, carbon monoxide is another potential cause of the hypoxia incidents.

The gas, one of many generated as exhaust by the plane's jet engines, might be getting into the cockpit, sources said.

Part of the problem, at least for pilots flying from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, where many of the known incidents have occurred, may be the startup procedures used in winter, one source said.

Because of the harsh climate, pilots often start their jet engines inside a hangar before taking off. That could allow exhaust gases to be trapped in the building, sucked back into the engines, and ingested into the bleed air intakes that are located within the engines' compressor sections that supply the OBOGS, sources said. The layout, sources added, is standard for modern jet aircraft.

But another source said that many of the hypoxia incidents have occurred well into flights or even during a day's second mission, long after the plane has left the Elmendorf hangar.

The U.S. Navy had problems with the OBOGS on its F/A-18 Hornet, which sucked carbon monoxide into its oxygen system during carrier operations. Between 2002 and 2009, Hornet aviators suffered 64 reported episodes of hypoxia, including two that killed the pilots, according to the July-August 2010 issue of "Approach," a Navy Safety Center publication.

The Navy modified the planes' OBOGS, has had no recent similar incidents and is not currently investigating the systems, Naval Air Systems Command officials said.

USAF Expands Investigation

In January, a safety investigation board led by Maj. Gen. Steven Hoog began looking into the the OBOGS on the F-16, F-15E and F-35 fighters; the A-10 attack jet and the T-6 trainer, according to May statements by officials with the service's Air Combat Command, which oversees combat aircraft.

In May, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley had ordered the service's Scientific Advisory Board to conduct a "quick-look study, gather and evaluate information, and recommend any needed corrective actions on aircraft using on-board oxygen generation systems," according to a July 21 statement by service officials.

The release indicated that the service is now looking at more types of aircraft: the B-1 and B-2 bombers and the CV-22 tilt-rotor and "other aircraft as appropriate."

According to the release, the investigation is conducting a "series of carefully controlled in-flight tests, the team will examine the subsystems identified in reported incidents. These include the pressurization system, mask and cockpit oxygen levels."

The release said the Scientific Advisory Board investigation followed the grounding of the F-22 fleet, but did not say whether it superseded, replaced or is merely accompanying the Hoog investigation.

One source said that F-22 test pilots at Edwards AFB, Calif., last week started flying sorties as the investigate OBOGS concerns as part of the Air Force safety investigation.

Air Force officials have confirmed only that some test pilots at the base are flying their jets under a special waiver granted to them to test an unrelated software upgrade.

However, the operational fleet remains grounded, with pilots and ground crews practicing in simulators as much as they can. But that is not a real solution because the pilots won't be able to maintain currency, one former F-22 pilot said.

"After 210 days, they've got to start retraining everybody," he said.

It would take weeks for the instructor pilots at Tyndall to re-qualify themselves and then start to train others, the former pilot said. Pilots with lapped currencies would be re-qualifying each other.

It would take four to six weeks afterward to re-qualify the operational squadrons. Service officials confirmed that 12 Raptors are stranded at Hill AFB, Utah, but declined to identify their squadron. The jets came to the desert base for a Combat Hammer exercise in which pilots and ground crews practice loading and releasing live air-to-ground weapons. Service officials said the jets are from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va.

Meanwhile, Lockheed can't deliver new Raptors to the Air Force because the company and the Pentagon's Defense Contract Management Agency are unable to fly required test sorties needed to certify the jets meet specifications. Four aircraft have technically been delivered to the service but can't fly to their new home at Langley AFB.

At least two additional aircraft have been completed but remain at the factory undelivered.

A massage for USA

Congolese Women Raped by Indian Rapists in UN Peace Missions

                You must have heard the story of a thief who had gave up his bad habit aftermarriage of his sons. After his death, his sons and daughter in laws gathered to distribute his possessions. His possessions were locked in trunk and he always used to hang its keys by his neck. When his sons and daughters in law opened the trunk, they were shocked to see items of their household that were stolen time to time in the past. Precious ornaments, crockery, and cloth that were part of dowries of daughters in law, all were there. Loss these items had created storms in the family. Many accusing fingers were raised. Secret of their father was revealed that although he had quitted theft but to satisfy his habit, he used to steal items from his own house.

                Same is the situation of Indian army. UNO had accused Indian army in writing of rape of Congolese women by its officers and soldiers. Previously such accusations were raised by Kashmiri and Indian minorities but were never listened to. Nobody sympathized innocent women of Kashmir and minorities whose honor was targeted deliberately by Indian army personnel. International media withheld such news of rape and murder. When such incidents resulted into general unrest and curfew, still international media highlighted different reasons for these. 

                The recent example of such incidents is that of Nilofer and Aasia, two girls in Shopian, Indian Held Kashmir, who were abducted by Indian soldiers while gathering wood near their home. Both girls (Nilofer had a baby back in home) were gang raped inIndian army camp and later murdered. Their bodies were thrown near their home. People protested against such heinous crime and Indian Held Kashmir had to go through curfew for six months. Tens of young Kashmiri including children were killed by Indian police during protests. Western median made no mention of such happening to the world. Even western media did not felt any moral deficiency when Indian homeminister accused Kashmiri mujahideen for this incident and arrested many innocent youth from that area.

                Even UNO has never paid any attention to accusation made not only by Arundhati Roy, a famous author, but other women organizations about rape of minorities particularly Kashmir women being practiced by Indian army as state policy. UNO sent  Aasma Jahangir, a favorite of Indians, for a fact finding mission to obscure the human right violation in India (you will observe Asma Jahangir in happiest mood at Wahga Border carrying flowers for Indians on the eve of their Divali or when she returns back from pilgrimage into India). She has always sponsored Indian interests against that of Kashmiri women.

                However, UNO has become the affected party to such incidents for the first time. A question can be raised that why so? UNO always send soldiers in war torn countries to protect its people and particularly women. UNO and its armed missions have played a dominant role in this regard. The troops from different nations are deployed to war affected countries after due considerations of local customs and conditions. The mission of such contingents is to establish peace, distribute food, medical, services, and promotes sense of protection amongst women so that they can start their normal life. If UN contingents are involved in moral and social crimes (prevention of which is sole purpose of their deployment) than you can well imagine the general condition. Such situations will benefit criminals and make life hell for peace loving people.

                The nations send their best military contingents as part of UN mission to increase their influence. Case of Indian army is different. Indian government often use their military might against its provinces to quell separatism and control minorities. Sexual abuse is used as a weapon. That is why Indian soldiers are good at this. On 15 July 2008, hundreds of old women gathered in front of Indian military headquarters at Kangla Fort, Imphal part of State of Manipur and protested naked against Indian armyatrocities. They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against Indian army’s policy of sexual abuse and gang rapes. These women (including well educated, professors and doctors) had been victim of Indian atrocities in some part to their lives. Their only crime was that the men of their family had either refused to accept occupation of Manipur by Indian central government or were sympathizers to separation movements. These women were chanting slogans, “Indian sexual beasts, come and rape us, we are of the age of your mothers, come and rape your mothers”. Indian soldiers at the central gates were unable to decide either to open fire on these women or arrest these naked women. Women from spectators covered them with their clothes. This protest was result of Indian atrocities against a professor of famous Ghana Priya Women’s College, Imphal. Her son had joined United Liberation Front of Assam so she was raped by Indian beasts as a punishment. Details have been printed by “Tehelka dot com” Current Affairs in August 2008.

                 However, such incidents are not new for Indian media. Few years back,Indian army gang raped girls from Mao Separatist and than threw dead bodies intrenches. Such scandals have been noticed many times. Indian media has decided to ignore such incidents. However, Sohani Laxmi, a lady journalist from Gwahati, Assam has published full details of an incident in that high caste Hindus of Gwahati forced a seventeen year old girl walk naked for eight kilometers. This was published at “JharkandBlog” with a title of “Adivasi Girl”. Hundreds of such heinous incidents can be viewed on line. One of the sorry aspect of this whole issue is that incident of Mukhtiaran Mai is broadcasted throughout the world. On the other hand, the so called civilized nations and their media tacitly choose to ignore Indian policy of sexual abuse and rape.

                It is the result of such neglect on the part of local as well as international media that Indian soldiers failed to desist from sexual abuse in UN mission of Congo. The Indian soldiers exploited the war torn women of Congo. These incidents surfaced when some unmarried Congolese mothers reported this to UN headquarters in Durla, Congo for upbringing of their children. The looks of these children were Indian instead of African. After investigation by UN institution for women, it was revealed that Indian soldiers fathered these children. Fifty-one of such cases were registered. Victims of Indian sexual abuse reached into hundreds. These girls were raped either through coercion or under deceit of food items and Indian made cosmetics. Their war-ravaged condition was exploited. It was a disgrace for UNO as an institution because it is the legal and moral responsibility of UN to ensure protection of these Congolese girls. The matter was reported to UN authorities in New York. Another such incidents was reported to UN authorities by South African home ministry in that a Lt. Colonel and two Majors of Indian army were arrested raping a woman while on leave in tourist city of Plettenberg Bay. They were arrested by police and jailed. They were released under diplomatic laws and repatriated to India. 

                Indian brigade commander in Congo accused Pakistani soldiers of suchviolations to avert the blame. UN authorities ordered DNA tests. The DNA samples of these pre-marital babies resembled to those of officers and men of 6th Sikh Battalion of India which was part of UN mission in Congo in 2008. UN authorities informed Indian government and asked for legal proceeding against these officers and soldiers. Indian efforts of accusing Pakistani soldiers were refuted due to DNA test. It also helped trace the actual fathers of these babies that included 12 officers and 39 non-commissioned officers and soldiers of Indian army.

                As usual, Indian government took policy of denial and neglected UN report and demands of punishment against these army personnel. It was a set back to UN’s good image. In 2010, when an Indian battalion was ready to embark on UN mission in New Delhi, UN refused to accept them. UN has made it clear that until the time Indian government does not punish those culprits involved in sexual abuses in Congo, UN will not only repatriate all Indian contingents but also take legal actions against them by itself.

                Indian government could not ignore large amount of UN payments and its repute. UN threat has worked and at last a committee comprising a Brigadier and two Colonels have been tasked to investigate 6^th Sikh Battalion in Uttar Pradesh (battalion is stationed at Chandigarh). UN has reported involvement of Indian contingents in sexual abuse not only in Congo but also in Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone. Other than that, Indian soldiers have been involved in smuggling of narcotics and weapons.

                 

Now question is; will UN be able to force India to punish its soldiers involved in human right violations including sexual abuse not only in Indian Held Kashmir but in Congo as well. I am sure that Asma Jhangir, Najam Sethi and Indian influenced so called progressive authors, poets, journalists, politicians, industrialists and traders will raise hue and cry that we should not involve ourselves in such issues. Dear readers, I protest against these Indian atrocities on three reasons:

Ø  One, world is a global village, it is the moral responsibility of people to raise their voices against atrocities in any part of the world;

Ø  Two, Indians tried to blame Pakistan for their wrong doings;

Ø  Three, India is continuing its policy of sexual abuse and rape of Kashmiri women as a weapon.

Every man and woman is morally bound to protest against such atrocities. We must protest against Indian aggressions and atrocities no matter somebody likes it to not.

"Operation Blue Star" and Sikh Holocaust 1984

Burning Corpses of innocent Sikhs in set on fire by Hindu Extremists

 May be we do not have any link with Indian Sikhs as we have no direct relationship with them. However, by way of humanity, it is our duty to raise voice in opposition to Indian atrocities against its minorities as we do in case of Muslims of India in general and those of Kashmir in particular. There is another reason for this that Sikhs have confessed their historic role in Punjabi holocaust in 1947’s partition under the influence of Hindu leadership and they have always raised voice against Indian policy of Muslim genocide beside their support for freedom movement in Indian held Kashmir.

                June have passed but no TV channel or any newspaper has expressed solidarity with Indian Sikhs and condemned Indian government for its attack on Sikh’s central religious site “Golden Temple” in 1984. We celebrate many days from Valentine to Father’s Day, no matter these are related to our culture or not. News about Indiansingers, actors and actresses are broadcasted many times. TV channels endeavor to broadcast India friendly news so that its image is softened more in the perception of the world. However, Nawa-i-Waqt, as usual, fulfilled its journalistic duty and printed a four columned news citing Human Rights Watch, “Indian government and courts must serve justice to those involved in massacre of Sikhs”.

Shaheed Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala

                I am sure our new generation and readers do not know what was OperationBLUE STAR and on whose authority Indian army attacked Sikh’s Golden Temple with tanks; Why Indra Gandhi (so called mother of democracy), adopted a dictatorial approach to Sikh Issue; and why world community neglected this fascism as in case of 1971. At last she met her end at the hands of her two loyal Sikh guards on 31 October 1984. To avenge this, notable congress leaders supervised massacre of Sikhs for four days and performed a symbolic bath by rubbing Sikh blood against their bodies. It is not only part of history but a proof as well that India is fascist despite its claims of secularism and democracy. Why Sikhs want separation from India? What was Khalistan Movement? It is quite a long story, however, organized massacre of Sikhs in 1984 is enough for eye opening.

                In 1982, when Sikh political leader Jarnail Singh Bhandranwala felt that he has unnerved Indian Prime Minister Indra Gandhi and established himself in “Guru Nanak’s Niwas” attached to golden temple and started reaching out to world at large through international media and reporters. He knew well that Sikh's religious leadership is not yet ready for separation and Indian local media does not have courage to stand against Indra Gandhi. On 23 April 1983, DIG of East Punjab Police, A K Atwal was assassinated by RAW when he was leaving Golden Temple after meeting President of Akaal Dal, Harchand Singh Langwal. Langwal blamed Bhindranwala for this murder in order to cleat himself. Indra Gandhi made intelligent moves and religious leadership of Sikhs started pressurizing Bhindranwala to vacate Guru Nanak Niwas. On 15 December 1983, supporters of Peer Khalsa and Langwal tried to force him out but he entered into Golden Temple along with his loyal followers.

                Indra Gandhi Government was not prepared for this because Sikh guards of golden temple supported Bhindranwala. Government thought that it would be easy to tackle Bhindranwala outside Guru Nanak Niwas. However, his entry into Golden Temple strengthened his position. Sikh youth started paying attention to his idea of separation. Golden Temple proved to be Bhindranwala’s stronghold and headquarter. At this time, Indra Gandhi decided to eliminate Bhindranwala and his followers because he was being called as Jarnail or General.

                On 1^st February 1984, Indian intelligence agency RAW forced newspapers to broadcast news that Bhindranwala has prepared a motorcycle borne armed group that would target Hindus in Amritsar. Not only Amritsar but other major cities also came under grip of fear due to this news. Bhindranwala declared such a scheme a conspiracy of Hindus and Congress against Sikhs. However, this explanation could not find any place in Indian media. After taking the decision for operation in Golden Temple, Indra Gandhi asked Indian Army Vice Chief General S K Sinha to work out timings and details of the operation. He was promised the post of Chief of Army Staff after this operation. But he advised her to solve the problem through dialogue. She dismissed him immediately violating all military norms. General Arun Shridhar Vadhya was promoted as army chief in his place and was ordered to eliminate Bhindranwala no matter Golden Temple is destroyed in the process. He promised the operation and asked Indra Gandhi to promote General Sunderji as Vice Chief that was agreed.

Civilized Extremists of Congress

On the night of 1^st June both the General officers arrived in Amritsar. The whole province was placed under curfew for 36 hours and all communication links including telephone and electricity were disrupted. In other words, the province came under martial law by the order of Prime Minister Indra Gandhi. Media was warned before hand not to broadcast any news against wishes of the government otherwise media owners and reporters would not be spared. The whole province of Indian Punjab was cut off from rest of the world.

On night of 5^th June, Indian Army under the command of Major General Kuldeep Singh Barar assaulted Golden Temple. Followers of Bhindranwala offered stiff resistance but could not withstand for long against artillery guns and tanks. All seventeen houses were demolished by cannons with in one and half hour. Contrary to that only front five houses were being used by followers of Bhindranwala. Shabak Singh, Leader of front line defense of Bhindranwala was killed along with his other fighters. An exact figure of casualties has not been declared so far because Indian Army frisked away hundreds of dead bodies including those innocent Sikh devotees who were caught in the fire. These also included women and children. Many of these devotees had come from Europe.

Tanks in Golden Temple

In second stage, Indian Army entered the Golden Temple. Bhindranwala and his followers were armed with small arms including machine guns. They fought the Indian Army bravely. At one time General Barar hesitated targeting Akal Takht in middle of pond. However he had example of General Sinha in his mind and ordered the Army to attack Akal Takht. Bhindranwala and his follower had taken refuge in Akal Takht and were engaging Indian Army with machine guns. Some armored vehicles were also destroyed by rocket launchers. Tanks were brought forward. Two tanks entered the Golden Temple. The Akal Takht was engaged with tank fire. The whole building was destroyed before sunrise. As per Indian Army’s claims, 4 officers, 4 junior commissioned officers and 75 soldiers were killed. 13 officers, 16 junior commissioned officers and 220 soldiers were injured. If 83 all ranks of an army supported by tanks and armored vehicles were killed in a night than you can imagine how many Sikhs would have been fighting against them. As per Indian Army, Bhindranwala with his 59 followers was killed along with 492 Sikh civilians. More than 4000 Sikhs were killed as per independent sources. Some of these were killed in Golden Temple. Others Sikh youth were killed by Indian Army on a mere suspicion accusing them as supporters of Bhindranwala. These were killed in cold blood with out any proof or judicial proceedings. 

Golden Temple after Operation Blue Star

Thousands of Sikhs were killed. Operation BLUE STAR met with success and calmed dictatorial instincts of Indra Gandhi. One of her political opponent was eliminated. Human right organizations chose to remain silent. International media only broadcast the news for information. No one condemned or protested against this. After 148 days, on 31 October 1984, Indra Gandhi was killed by her own guards walking from her government residence to offices. The news spread like a wild fire that Sikh guards had avenged killing of Bhindranwala. Sikh were attacked by Hindus in all major cities including New Delhi. For four days, Sikh were attacked and killed in the streets.

On the 31^st, every Sikh on streets was killed and burnt. Even babies and aged people were not spared. However, form 1^st to 4^th November, Sikh population and business centers were targeted in an organized manner. Parliamentarians were seen supervising such attacks. Congress government even freed professional criminal from jails on the condition that they will kill maximum Sikhs. Hindu extremists committed acts of violence against uniformed Sikh Police officers while their other comrades kept looking at it. All Sikhs in police and army were disarmed beforehand.

General Sunderji; Mastermind of Operation Blue Star

As per proofs presented in Indian courts, congress parliamentarians and leaders called their supporters on special meetings handed over weapons, petrol and money for the ugly job. List of Sikh residents were prepared through voter lists, children enrolled in government schools, ration cards, registers of trade unions and records of income tax. These lists were distributed as an electoral roll and groups were organized area wise for attack on Sikh population. This whole planning was completed before 1^stNovember. (it must be remembered that same techniques are adopted against Muslims in India).

Golden Temple; Holy place of Sikhs in Amritsar

On 2^nd November, the riot hit cities were placed under curfew, but not for these Hindu extremists, rather for those unfortunate Sikhs who were trying to escape the violence. On 4^th November, when storm of revenge was over, the so called secular leaders of Congress apologized for Sikh holocaust and assured no further killings. They asked Sikhs to forget what had happened and move forward as they have to live together with the Hindus. As per Indian estimates, 20,000 Sikhs were killed in these riots and 80,000 were displaced. A judicial commission was also organized to investigate these killings. This judicial commission has created so far eleven more commissions but with no results. However, a US based NGO named “SIKHS FORJUSTICE” has filed a case against Indian Congress, now in government, in a New York court for carrying out organized massacre of Sikhs in India. US court has asked Indian Congress and its leader Kaml Nath to appear in the court.

Will this case be decided or USA will use this as bargaining tool for political concessions from India? Time will decide it. Did we avenged holocaust of 1947 by handing over of list of leaders of Khalistan Movement to India or were there some other reasons? May be this question will also remain unanswered as in case of Sikh holocaust...