Human rights in India to the escalating Punjab insurgency by launching Operation Blue Star in 1984, storming the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple complex in Amritsar—the center of Sikh religious and spiritual life, where some militant groups had retreated. The Operation was controversial and resulted in death of hundreds of civilians, militants and soldiers. After this incident, Sikh bodyguards assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, further violence ensued. The aftermath of these events were felt for more than a decade. According to a Human Rights Watch report, state security forces adopted “increasingly brutal methods to stem the insurgency, including arbitrary arrests, torture, prolonged detention without
Iqbal Singh (spiritual leader) Iqbal Singh (spiritual leader) Iqbal Singh (born:1 May 1926 as Iqbal Singh Kingra) is a socio-spiritual leader of the Sikh community. He is the Founder President of The Kalgidhar Trust, The Kalgidhar Society and Baru Sahib. He is considered to be one of the most influential Sikhs in the world. He was awarded the Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2018 he was bestowed with Shiromani Panth Rattan (precious jewel of the Sikh community) by Takht Sri Harmandir ji, Patna Sahib. Singh was born to Sanwal Singh and Gulab Kaur in Bharyal Lehri, Gurdaspur district of Punjab. Young Iqbal