Massive sword fight breaks out between Sikh groups at Indian temple

By EMILY CEGIELSKI

A massive sword fight erupted between two rival groups of Sikhs at an Indian temple last Friday. According to a local report, the clash left 12 injured and sent at least three to the hospital. Vice reported that the incident occurred at the Golden Temple in Punjab, which is the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion.

Video footage captured shows dozens of sword-wielding men fighting and chasing each other around the site.

According to RTÉ News, hundreds of people had gathered at the shrine to remember those who had been killed at the temple 30 years prior during an army raid. Operation Blue Star was an attempt by India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to drive Sikh separatists out of the Golden Temple. Hundreds of people were killed.

Buzzfeed reported that the clash last Friday broke out after a disagreement over who would be allowed to speak first at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the military operation.

'Today, we were supposed to have a solemn remembrance for the martyrs of 1984 so what has happened is very sad,' said Prem Singh Chandumajra, a spokesman for a Sikh outfit whose supporters were involved in the fight. 'The temple has once again been dishonored today.'

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