No air defence guns deployed in Golden Temple, clarifies Indian Army

"It is clarified that no AD (air defence) guns or any other AD resource was deployed within the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar - the Golden Temple," said the Army in a statement.

Earlier, Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha claimed air defence guns were deployed at the Golden Temple, the place of worship for Sikhs, during the India-Pakistan conflict.

Giani Amarjeet, the additional head priest of the Golden Temple, called the Army officer's statement as "untrue".

"The management of Sri Harmandir Sahib had cooperated with the district administration’s guidelines regarding the city-wide blackout by switching off exterior and upper lights of the complex within the specified time frame. However, lights at locations where religious code of conduct (maryada) is observed were kept on, and the sanctity of the religious place was maintained with full responsibility," Giani Amarjeet said as quoted by The Hindu.

"The claim made by the Army officer that the ‘Head Granthi’ gave permission for deploying air defence guns during ‘Operation Sindoor’ is completely false. No such permission was ever granted, nor was any such deployment allowed at this sacred site," he added.

'Pak forces targeted Golden Temple after Op. Sindoor'

Days ago, the Indian Army revealed the Pakistani forces had targeted the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar after Operation Sindoor decimated nine terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and beyond.

The Army on Monday said the Pakistani Army targeted Golden Temple with missiles and drones on the intervening night of May 7 and 8.

Major General Kartik C Seshadri, GOC, 15 Infantry Division told ANI, "...Knowing that Pak Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they will target Indian military installations, civilian targets including religious places.

"Of these, Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple. On 8th May early morning, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles."

"We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our braveheart and alert army air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan Army's nefarious designs and shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple."

About Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was a fierce military operation launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on May 7, in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists who were enjoying their vacation at Baisaran Valley, which is referred to as India's Switzerland.

The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

After the Pakistan Army again targeted Indian civilians and resorted to cross-border firing, the Indian Armed Forces retaliated, destroying defence systems of the hostile neighbour.

On Pakistan's appeal, India responded with a ceasefire on May 10 but Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of fresh retaliation if Islamabad goes astray.