Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and was a powerful and controversial figure in Indian politics.
On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, in retaliation for her decision to order the Indian Army to attack the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab earlier that year. The attack, which was aimed at flushing out Sikh separatists who had taken refuge inside the temple, resulted in significant damage to the temple and the deaths of many civilians, as well as militants.
The assassination of Indira Gandhi led to widespread violence against the Sikh community, particularly in Delhi, where thousands of Sikhs were killed in retaliation. The violence was triggered by the perception that the assassination was carried out by the Sikh community as a whole, rather than by a small group of individuals.
The assassination of Indira Gandhi was a significant event in Indian history and had a lasting impact on the country’s politics. It led to the rise of her son, Rajiv Gandhi, as Prime Minister, and the further entrenchment of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty in Indian politics. It also highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Indian government and various ethnic and religious groups within the country.
She was shot multiple times, and according to reports, she was hit by at least 30 bullets fired by the two assassins. The assassination took place at her residence, 1 Safdarjung Road, New Delhi. Despite efforts to save her, she died of her injuries a few hours later. The assassination of Indira Gandhi was a tragic event in Indian history and had significant political and social repercussions.