Bullet marks preserved at Samundri Hall

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 23

The preservation of Operation Bluestar’s bullet marks on the walls of Teja Singh Samundri Hall in the Golden Temple complex is nearing completion.

The marks are part of the evidence to be furnished in a compensation petition filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in the Delhi High Court.

During the Army operation, the Akal Takht was demolished, whereas several other structures were damaged, including the Teja Singh Samundri Hall, Darshani Deori (entrance point to the Golden Temple sanctum sanctorum), Guru Ram Das Serai, Nanak Niwas and the office of the Dharam Parchar Committee.

Most of these buildings were renovated and the bullet marks were patched up or filled with chemical paste. Only the ones on the walls of the hall and Darshani Deori were left untouched.

Holding the Central Government liable, the SGPC has demanded Rs 1,000 crore as damages. The court fee, amounting to Rs 10 crore, was deposited by the SGPC in June 2013. Photographs of the damage caused by the operation have also been preserved to substantiate the claim.

Led by Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale, ‘kar sewa’ to refurbish the building was started on July 2, 2016.

Officials said around 70 bullet marks on the façade and two sides of the hall had been preserved before giving the building a fresh coat of paint.

Later, the portion with over 100 bullet marks would be encircled with “steel frames” to mark the holes.

SGPC secretary Roop Singh said, “Since Operation Bluestar’s bullet marks were prominent on this building, it has been cited as evidence in the court case. Its interiors, too, needed renovation, which has been done.”