AMRITSAR: Violent clashes broke out between two Sikh groups inside the Golden Temple complex on the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, Friday.
The police registered cases ranging from assault to attempt to murder against 28 people — 21 of whom were arrested, while search was on to nab the 7 others on the run.
10 people, including a child, were injured in the incident. Members of the media were also targeted.
As per reports, trouble started after members of the Shiromani Akali Dal-controlled Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) protested Shriomani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann’s attempt to give a speech from Rostrum of the Akal Takht.
This infuriated Mann supporters with one of them attempting to snatch the microphone from Jathedar of Akal Thakt, Giani Gurbachan Singh.
SGPC-run Golden Temple Task Force swung into action immediately and took on Mann supporters.
Soon it was a free for all, with both sides reacting violently with swords and lathis.
The clash began after the religious ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar ended Friday morning.