At least 12 people were hurt in extraordinary scenes at India’s Golden Temple when rival groups of Sikhs brandished swords and spears and chased each other.

The factions clashed following a disagreement over who should speak first at memorial event to mark the 30th anniversary of a controversial military operation to clear militants from the temple at Amritsar.

Indian television channels showed dozens of Sikhs wearing traditional turbans and robes waving swords at each and pointing spears as the two groups sized each other up. Some of those present raised their arms and appeared to appeal for calm.

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Reports said at least a dozen and maybe as many as 20 people were injured in the melee, which lasted for almost half an hour. Police were called to the temple, the most sacred site of the Sikh religion, but did not go inside.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Extraordinary sword fight breaks out at event to mark anniversary of Golden Temple massacre Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Extraordinary sword fight breaks out at event to mark anniversary of Golden Temple massacre 1/10 India Members of Sikh radical groups clash with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporters, after a prayer and remembrance meeting for the Sikh separatists who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star in 1984 at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines in Amritsar 2/10 India A member of Sikh radical groups clashes with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporter 3/10 India Clashes broke out between sword-wielding Sikhs at the Golden Temple in northern India on the 30th anniversary of a notorious army raid on the site. At least 12 people were wounded in the violence at the temple in the city of Amritsar, which is the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion 4/10 India Sikh activists hold posters as they protest during commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 5/10 India Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects to those killed in the 6 June1984 raid of the temple by Indian troops aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland 6/10 India Sikh activists pull hair of the member of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee ( SGPC) during the clashes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 7/10 India Sikh activists protest against members of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee ( SGPC) during commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 8/10 India Operation Blue Star, that took place from 3 to 8 June 1984 saw the Indian Army storm the Golden Temple to flush out Sikh separatists and arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale a Sikh leader and his followers who had initiated a movement for a separate Sikh state. Hundreds were left dead following the operation 9/10 India Member of Sikh radical groups fights with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporter at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines in Amritsar 10/10 India The sword brandishing among the SGPC supporters and Sikh radical group men 1/10 India Members of Sikh radical groups clash with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporters, after a prayer and remembrance meeting for the Sikh separatists who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star in 1984 at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines in Amritsar 2/10 India A member of Sikh radical groups clashes with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporter 3/10 India Clashes broke out between sword-wielding Sikhs at the Golden Temple in northern India on the 30th anniversary of a notorious army raid on the site. At least 12 people were wounded in the violence at the temple in the city of Amritsar, which is the holiest shrine in the Sikh religion 4/10 India Sikh activists hold posters as they protest during commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 5/10 India Hundreds of Sikhs had gathered at the shrine to pay their respects to those killed in the 6 June1984 raid of the temple by Indian troops aimed at flushing out armed separatists demanding an independent Sikh homeland 6/10 India Sikh activists pull hair of the member of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee ( SGPC) during the clashes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 7/10 India Sikh activists protest against members of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee ( SGPC) during commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar 8/10 India Operation Blue Star, that took place from 3 to 8 June 1984 saw the Indian Army storm the Golden Temple to flush out Sikh separatists and arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale a Sikh leader and his followers who had initiated a movement for a separate Sikh state. Hundreds were left dead following the operation 9/10 India Member of Sikh radical groups fights with Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) supporter at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines in Amritsar 10/10 India The sword brandishing among the SGPC supporters and Sikh radical group men

The event of special prayers had been called to mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, the 1984 operation by the Indian army to clear the temple of Sikh militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Reports on the number of people killed during the six-day operation range from around 500 to up to 5,000. Around 80 soldiers lost their lives.

Four months after she ordered the operation, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards. The murder of Mrs Gandhi at her official residence in Delhi sparked widespread attacks on members of the Sikh community in the capital and elsewhere. Anywhere up to 8,000 people were killed. Some in the Delhi police force were accused of allowing the carnage to happen.

Though there have been at least ten inquiries into the killings, no senior officials have ever been convicted, even though hundreds of so-called rioters were sent to jail. Sikh activists say they have been protected by successive Congress party governments.

Three weeks after the killings, Indira Gandhi’s son, Rajiv, hurriedly sworn in as Prime Minister, said in a speech: “When a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it does shake a little.”