Satwant Singh: Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}

The motivation for the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] was revenge for the military attack carried out by the Indian government on [[Harmandir Sahib]], in [[Amritsar]], [[India]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/10spec1.htm|title=Why Osama resembles Bhindranwale|website=Rediff|access-date=2019-03-22}}</ref><ref name="CrenshawM381">{{cite book |last1=Crenshaw |first1=Martha |title=Terrorism in Context |date= 2010 |publisher=Penn State Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nFyZaZGthgC |page=381 |accessdate=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162242/https://books.google.com/books?id=9nFyZaZGthgC |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> .<ref name="dnaindia_tryst">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-operation-blue-star-india-s-first-tryst-with-militant-extremism-2270293|title=Operation Blue Star: India's first tryst with militant extremism  - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=5 November 2016|website=Dnaindia.com|accessdate=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103012225/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-operation-blue-star-india-s-first-tryst-with-militant-extremism-2270293|archive-date=3 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TH_Mi6">{{cite news |title=RAW chief consulted MI6 in build-up to Operation Bluestar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/raw-chief-consulted-mi6-in-buildup-to-operation-bluestar/article5579516.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 January 2014 |location=Chennai, India |first=Praveen |last=Swami}}</ref>

Beant Singh drew a .38 revolver and fired three shots into [[Indira Gandhi]]'s abdomen; as she fell to the ground, Satwant Singh fired all 30 rounds from his Sten automatic weapon into her abdomen (thus, 33 bullets were fired in total, of which 30 bullets hit her). Both assassins subsequently dropped their weapons and surrendered.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=William E.|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926929-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110185009/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926929-2,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2007|title=Indira Gandhi: Death in the Garden|publisher=TIME|date=12 November 1984|accessdate=19 January 2013}}</ref><ref>Cynthia Keppley Mahmood, {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=8QufTc6fAocC&pg=RA1-PA135&lpg=RA1-PA135&dq=Satwant+Singh+indira|title=Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues With Sikh Militants|accessdate=19 January 2013|isbn=978-0812215922|last1=Mahmood|first1=Cynthia Keppley|date=November 1996}}</ref>

[[Beant Singh (assassin)|Beant Singh]] was shot to death during interrogation in custody soon after the assassination. Satwant Singh was arrested and later sentenced to death by hanging along with co-conspirator [[Kehar Singh]]. In his court statement, Satwant Singh appealed for end to communal violence in the country, while pinning the blame for the same on Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panthic.org/articles/2865|title=TWO LIONS AWAKEN|website=panthic.org}}</ref> The sentence was carried out on 6 January 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464423.stm|title=Indian prime minister shot dead|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

In 2004, the anniversary of his death was again observed at [[Akal Takhat]], Amritsar, where his mother was honored by the head priest and tributes were paid to Satwant Singh and [[Kehar Singh]] by various political parties.<ref name="tribuneindia2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040107/punjab1.htm#3|title=The Tribune|publisher=Tribuneindia.com|accessdate=19 January 2013}}</ref> In 2007, the death anniversaries of Satwant Singh and his wife were observed in various parts of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and other countries. On 6 January 2008, the [[Akal Takht]] declared Beant Singh and Satwant Singh "martyrs of Sikhism",<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/07/stories/2008010762501200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110102918/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/07/stories/2008010762501200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2008|title=Indira Gandhi killers labelled martyrs|accessdate=13 October 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2008-01-07|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/indira-assassin-great-martyr-vedanti/258427|title=Indira assassin 'great martyr': Vedanti|work=The Indian Express|date=7 January 2008|accessdate=13 October 2012}}</ref> while the [[SGPC]] also labeled them "martyrs of the Sikh nation".