1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash

1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash
1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash
	Photograph of the bodies of the deceased Sikhs in the aftermath of the clash
Date	13 April 1978
Location	Amritsar, Punjab, India
Caused by	Sikh-Sant Nirankari tensions stemming from the 1950s; Proclamations and actions by Sant Nirankari leader Gurbachan Singh seen as provocative to the Sikh community; Alleged state support to Sant Nirankaris, police presence;
Methods	Protest
Resulted in	16 casualties; 150 injured; Splintering of Akhand Kirtani Jatha;
Parties
Sant Nirankari Mission; Punjab Police	Khalsa Sikh groups:; Akhand Kirtani Jatha; Damdami Taksal
Lead figures
	Gurbachan Singh Fauja Singh †; Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Number
Unknown	~200
Casualties and losses
3 Sant Nirankaris killed	13 Khalsa Sikhs dead; 150 injured

The 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash occurred between the Sant Nirankari Mission and Sikhs of Damdami Taksal and Akal Kirtani Jatha on 13 April 1978 at Amritsar, Punjab, India. Sixteen people—thirteen traditional Sikhs and three Nirankari followers—were killed in the ensuing violence, occurring when some Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal members led by Fauja Singh protested against and tried to stop a convention of Sant Nirankari Mission followers. This incident is considered to be a starting point in the events leading to Operation Blue Star and the 1980s insurgency in Punjab.

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