Amritsar, June 7 (Agencies): A new generation of leaderless sword-wielding Sikh youths wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the visage of the vanguard of Khalistan movement — Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwala — raised slogans in favour of a separate Sikh state in the Golden Temple complex. All this happened in the presence of Akal Takht jathedar, other clergy besides the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president on the occasion of 31st anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
In absence of SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, who would every year snatched mike and seized the stage to spread separatist ideology, one of his close confidants and former MP Dhian Singh Mand tried playing his role. Mand was immediately frisked away by SGPC's task force but not before a handful of Sikh youths flashed naked swords and raised slogans in praise of Bhinderanwale and completed the 'parkarma' (circumambulation) of the Golden Temple scaring devotees.
A few Sikh youths also attempted to move towards a nearby residential area with swords in their hands but were prevented by police leading to minor scuffle between them. "We have detained around 35 persons, but overall situation is under control," said Amritsar commissioner of police J S Aulakh.
Heavy police force, both men and women, in uniform and civvies, and sleuths of intelligence agencies were present in every nook and corner of the Golden Temple to assist SGPC's task force. Policemen in plain clothes were seen manning a staircase leading to the Akal Takht. A contingent of the Border Security Force and Punjab Armed Police were deployed in the vicinity of the Golden Temple to keep an eye on mischievous elements.
City police had also made preventive arrests of few leaders of Shiv Sena, who had threatened to move towards the Golden Temple to protest against eulogizing and honouring of terrorists. A few Hindu groups also performed havan for the Army personnel who had died fighting the militants during Operation Bluestar.
However, the impact of Amritsar shutdown call was visible as majority of markets remained closed. At some places, Sikh youths took the round of markets to ensure the shops remained closed. Commenting about the sword-wielding youth in the Golden Temple complex , president of Sikh Youth Federation, Bhinderanwale, Balwant Singh Gopala, a staunch supporter of Khalistan, said "These are photo crazy Khalistanis. They move to raise slogans where TV cameras move."