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1 June 1984 The events that would later be known as Operation Blue Star began to unfold on June 1, 1984. For months, tensions had been escalating in Punjab. The Darbar Saheb complex had become the focal point of a confrontation between the Indian government and armed Sikh fighters led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters. Thousands of pilgrims were also present in the complex ahead of the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. On June 1, security forces positioned around the Golden Temple fired into the complex. Accounts differ on who initiated the exchange, but firing soon erupted between security personnel and armed fighters. The confrontation lasted for several hours. Witnesses reported intense gunfire around the Darbar Saheb perimeter. Bullets struck parts of the complex, including areas near the sacred shrine. Pilgrims and civilians found themselves trapped amid the violence. As the day progressed, casualties were reported on both sides, along with civilian deaths and injuries. While a full-scale military assault had not yet begun, June 1 marked the point at which the standoff transformed into open armed conflict. The exchange of fire demonstrated that a peaceful resolution was rapidly slipping away. For many Sikhs, the sight of gunfire around their holiest shrine was unimaginable. For the government, it signaled that the situation had entered a dangerous new phase. By nightfall, Amritsar remained tense. The world did not yet know that far more devastating events were only days away. #OperationBlueStar #June1984 #Punjab1984 #SikhHistory #NeverForget #GoldenTemple #HistoryThread