Jammu, June 6 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday said that three Sikh groups in the state are planning to launch terror attacks in Punjab to bring back the dark era, which it witnessed in the 1980's.

The arrest of three militants Malikeet Singh, Surjeet Singh and Harbans Singh on Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch highway threw light on the fact that about 40 terrorists belonging to Khalistan Zindabad Force, Panj Pardhani Group and Iknoor Khalsa Fauj had set their base in Barnala and were planning to destroy peace in Punjab, the police said.

Malkeet Singh's release from a Patiala jail in January was followed by the formation of Panj Pardhani Group, which had some of its members, connected to the Khalsa Dal. 

Punjab police has been placed on a high alert. Two police teams from Ludhiana and Barnala have arrived to join interrogation of the arrested militants.

'Blue Star' anniversary observed at Amritsar's Golden Temple

Amritsar, June 6 (ANI): The 24th anniversary of "Operation Blue Star" marking the Indian Army's storming of the Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his group of armed extremists was observed here today.

The extremists had set up their base in the temple complex.

The Akal Takht, the spiritual seat of the Sikhs, was badly damaged during the operations.

"The Akal Takht is a revered place for Sikhs. Sentiments of thousands of Sikhs are connected with it. The Congress government of that time brought guns and tanks into this holy site. So we are observing the day as a "Black Day," said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head Granthi of the Akal Takht.

Bhindrawale, who had entrenched himself in the complex, was eventually killed along with several other Sikh militants.

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down on October 31, 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, in retaliation for that operation. Her assassination led to riots across the country in which Sikhs were violently targeted with tragic consequences. (ANI)