Indira Gandhi is popularly known as the Iron Lady of India. (Photo Credit: Twitter/ @INCGoa)
New Delhi: Indira Gandhi, popularly known as the Iron Lady of India, was assassinated by two of her own bodyguards on October 31, 1984, after five months of military action at the Golden Temple as part of Operation Blue Star. Indira Gandhi – the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India – was credited with the nationalisation of banks and the abolition of the privy purses of the royal families, among others.
Indira Gandhi to date, has been the only female Prime Minister of India. While Indira Gandhi’s entire family was involved in the freedom struggle, her grandfather, Motilal Nehru, was a well-known lawyer, activist and politician affiliated with the Indian National Congress (INC).
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How Indira Gandhi’s bodyguards assassinate her?
October 31, 1984, 9.20 am: Indira Gandhi was on her way to be interviewed by British actor Peter Ustinov (who was filming a documentary for Irish television). Ustinov was waiting for her at the Prime Minister’s Office, located at 1 Akbar Road, adjacent to her residence.
October 31, 1984, 9.30 am: Suddenly, Beant Singh, one of her bodyguards, fired at her from his revolver. While the bullet hit her in the abdomen, he fired two more bullets into her chest.
Another assailant, Satwant Singh (who was standing nearby holding his carbine when Beant Singh shouted at him to fire at Indira Gandhi), Satwant Singh immediately emptied all 25 bullets, most of them piercing Indira Gandhi’s body.
Salma Sultan gave the first news of the assassination of Gandhi, telecasted on Doordarshan’s evening news on October 31, 1984, more than ten hours after her assassination.
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The Indian Government alleged that Indira Gandhi’s secretary, RK Dhawan, overruled intelligence and security officials who had ordered the removal of policemen as a security threat, including her assassins.
According to several reports in the media, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards to avenge the humiliation of Sikhs and the desecration of the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star.
