Assassins of Indira Gandhi were honored at Golden Temple

Two assassins of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were Sunday honored by a senior Sikh clergyman at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, northwest India, to mark the 24th anniversary of their hanging, local media reported.

The head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, honored the kin of the assassins, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, who were hanged 24 years ago for gunning down Gandhi at her official residence, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

The outlook of the Golden Temple at Amritsarin the Punjab region of northern India.It isthe most sacred place in Sikhism. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The assassination on Oct. 31, 1984, triggered widespread anti- Sikh riots which killed thousands of innocent Sikhs and many rapes were committed against Sikh women.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated for ordering the Indian Army into the Golden Temple complex in June 1984 to flush out heavily armed Sikh militants in operation "Blue Star".

The Akal Takht head, Gurbachan Singh, presented a "siropa" or robe of honor to the father of Satwant Singh, at a function, giving the two assassins the status of martyrs of faith, according to the report.