Assassination of Arjun Dass

In June 1984, the Indian Army launched an assault on Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, including the destruction of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib building, as part of Operation Blue Star. This brutal military operation led to the martyrdom of hundreds of Sikhs, sparking widespread anger and calls for justice within the Sikh community. Following Sikh tradition, many were determined to avenge this sacrilege.

Within four months of the attack, two Sikh bodyguards assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at her residence. In retaliation, her son, Rajiv Gandhi, who became the Prime Minister, orchestrated state-sponsored pogroms targeting Sikhs across Delhi and other parts of India. These violent anti-Sikh riots lasted more than five days, leaving thousands of Sikhs dead and countless others displaced.

In response to these atrocities, the Sikh community sought justice by targeting and assassinating politicians responsible for orchestrating the pogroms. Among these figures was Arjun Dass, a close confidant of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and a key perpetrator of the violence in Delhi.

Delhi Sikh Genocide

The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on the morning of October 31, 1984, at approximately 9:30 AM, was a direct response to Operation Blue Star. This act of retaliation became the catalyst for a state-sponsored pogrom against Sikhs, orchestrated with chilling precision by her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, and executed by his close allies, including Lalit Maken.

As news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination spread, the atmosphere outside AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) shifted from shock to anger. Furious slogans like “Khoon ka Badla Khoon Se” (“Blood for Blood”) reverberated through the air, forewarning the violence to come.

On the night of October 31 and into the early hours of November 1, senior Congress (I) leaders held meetings with their supporters to execute a meticulously planned genocide. At these gatherings, weapons were distributed, monetary rewards were promised, and detailed instructions were provided. Disturbingly, Congress party officials supplied voter rolls, school records, and ration card lists, all containing the names and addresses of Sikh residents in every neighborhood.

By marking Sikh homes under the cover of night on October 31, the organizers ensured the precision of the ensuing attacks. These prepared lists enabled mobs, led by Congress (I) leaders and local collaborators, to target Sikh families and businesses with ruthless efficiency. Even in diverse neighborhoods, attackers relied on these records to single out Sikh individuals and systematically destroy their lives and livelihoods.

Who Are the Guilty – Hit List

A few weeks after the Delhi pogrom, human rights activists and their organizations released a concise yet impactful report titled “Who Are the Guilty” in November 1984. Co-authored by renowned political scientist Rajni Kothari from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Gobinda Mukhoty of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), the report was the result of extensive investigations into the widespread killings, looting, and violence that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The report unequivocally asserted that the violence was not a spontaneous outbreak of communal anger but a meticulously orchestrated state-sponsored pogrom. It identified leaders and workers of the Indian National Congress (INC) as the principal architects of this mass violence.

Several prominent political figures were explicitly named as key perpetrators, including Lalit Maken (MP), Arjun Dass (MC), H.K.L. Bhagat (MP), Babu Ram Sharma (MC), Sajjan Kumar (MP), Dharam Das Shastri (MP), Jagdish Tytler (MP), Balwant Khokhar (INC), Ishwar Singh (MC), Mahendra (MC), Mangat Ram Singal (MC), Dr. Ashok Kumar (MC), Sundar Lal Sood (MC), Jagdish Chandra Tokas (MC), Faiz Mohammad (INC), Ratan (INC), Satbir Singh (INC), and Krishna Chandra Pant (INC) among others.

In response, Kharkus (Sikh freedom fighters) began forming hit lists based on this report to seek justice against those who orchestrated the Sikh Pogrom. Lalit Maken was assassinated on July 31, 1985, at his residence by Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Shindu, also known as KC Sharma, Bhai Ranjit Singh Kukki Gill, and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha. Following this, Arjun Dass, a close confidant of Rajiv Gandhi, became the next target.

Arjun Dass – Killer of Sikhs

Arjun Dass, 46, was a resident of Munirka (South Delhi) and served as the Metropolitan Councilor for the Shahdara area. Despite being a Punjabi Hindu, he garnered significant political support from Sikh voters and actively participated in Sikh events held at Gurudwaras. His presence at these events helped him maintain his political influence within the Sikh community.

Arjun Dass was a close confidant of both Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Before Sanjay Gandhi’s tragic death in a plane crash, Dass was often seen as his shadow, attending key events and programs alongside him. At Sanjay Gandhi’s funeral, Arjun Dass stood vigil over the body during its public display, demonstrating their close association. Additionally, Dass acted as a consultant to Sanjay Gandhi in his ambitious yet unsuccessful effort to create a modern Indian automobile. Sanjay frequently brought prototypes of the vehicle to Dass’s garage, where the two worked on refining its design together.

Arjun Dass also shared a personal connection with Rajiv Gandhi through their mutual interest in aviation. As a former member and president of the Delhi Flying Club, Dass took private flying lessons with Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. At the time, Rajiv Gandhi was working as an Indian Airlines pilot before transitioning into politics. This shared passion for aviation further deepened their bond.

Arjun Dass’s Involvement in the Sikh Pogrom

Arjun Dass played a pivotal role in initiating the violence during the November 1984 state-sponsored pogrom, which lasted for 5-6 days. As the Metropolitan Councilor of the Shahdara area—under whose jurisdiction the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) was located—he became one of the key figures in orchestrating the initial attacks against Sikhs.

According to multiple affidavits, including one by Jagjit Singh, which stated that Arjun Dass, along with H.K.L. Bhagat, Lalit Maken, Sajjan Kumar, and Dharam Dass Shastri, left AIIMS around 4:00 PM on October 31, 1984. Shortly afterward, Arjun Dass led a group of 30-35 Youth Congress (I) activists to the INA Market. The group targeted Sikhs, beginning with a Sikh riding a scooter. Witnesses reported that the mob snatched the turban of a Sikh youth, tossing it into the air and making a bonfire from it. Sikh passersby and commuters were beaten mercilessly, their turbans added to the fire.

Sikh shops were looted and set ablaze, and the nearby Laxmi Bai Nagar and Kidwai Nagar Gurudwaras were also destroyed. Shockingly, the mob led by Arjun Dass also desecrated the Adi Granth, the Sikh holy scripture, marking the beginning of the organized violence against Sikhs in Delhi.

At approximately 5:30 PM, when Rajiv Gandhi emerged from AIIMS after viewing his mother’s body, Arjun Dass and his associates greeted him with the chilling slogan, “Khoon ka badla khoon se” (“Blood for blood”). According to Nihal Singh’s affidavit to the Nanavati Commission, Arjun Dass led a mob that burned eight Sikhs alive with the assistance of his associates, including Ravi, Gandhi, Goga, Rajinder, Jawahar (a sanitary inspector from Mansarovar Park), and Puran.

Arjun Dass was also accused of leading an attack on the cavalcade of President Giani Zail Singh around 5:30 PM on October 31, 1984, outside AIIMS. Despite being part of Indira Gandhi’s government, President Zail Singh was attacked simply for being Sikh.

The report “Who Are the Guilty” documented that Arjun Dass and his son Ravi were seen carrying firearms—Dass with a gun and Ravi with a revolver—while looting Sikh shops and properties. They also reportedly targeted and looted a prominent Sikh-owned warehouse belonging to M/s Mahindra and Mahindra.

The Nanavati Commission Report highlighted the extent of the violence in the Shahdara sub-division, which had three police stations—Shahdara, Yamunapuri, and Seelampur. Between November 1 and November 5, 1984, these stations reported 114 cases of arson, 36 incidents of looting, and 33 Sikh deaths. However, affidavits submitted to the Justice Mishra Commission suggested that the death toll in the area was closer to 580. Several affidavits specifically implicated Arjun Dass in orchestrating violence against Sikhs in the Shahdara area.

Assassination of Arjun Dass – September 4, 1985

On the morning of September 4, 1985, at approximately 9:20 AM, three Kharku Singhs executed a meticulously planned operation outside Arjun Dass’s office-cum-garage in the bustling Laxmibai Market. The team consisted of Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha, Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, and a third Singh. While Jinda and Sukha arrived on a green scooter—famously used earlier in the assassination of Lalit Maken—the third Singh arrived separately by auto-rickshaw. Bhai Jinda carried a .55 revolver, Bhai Sukha was armed with a .38 revolver, and the third Singh wielded a Sten gun. The chosen time coincided with the market’s opening, ensuring high activity to mask their movements.

Inside the office, Arjun Dass was seated in his chair with an open diary in front of him. Alongside him were Baldev Raj, his younger brother; Mukesh Bhatt, his personal assistant; Rajendra Upadhyaya, a job seeker; and two women, Mahadevi and Parvati, who had come seeking counsel. Outside the office, a security guard in civil dress stood nearby as Upadhyaya and the two women waited on a bench.

The operation commenced after the Kharkus confirmed Dass’s presence in the office. Without hesitation, the three Singhs revealed their hidden weapons from their bags and approached the office. Bhai Sukha was the first to engage, shooting down Vijendra Singh, a plainclothes bodyguard of Dass, as he attempted to draw his revolver. When the second bodyguard tried to retrieve his colleague’s weapon, he was immediately neutralized by the third Singh’s Sten gun.

Jinda and Sukha then stormed into the confined office space, leaving the occupants with no chance to escape or defend themselves. As chaos erupted, Arjun Dass crouched behind a filing cabinet, but the Kharkus executed their mission with precision. Bhai Sukha emptied his revolver, with two bullets striking Dass in the chest. Bhai Jinda followed, firing additional shots that hit Dass in the neck, thigh, and left arm. After confirming Dass’s death, the Kharkus retrieved a loaded revolver from one of the fallen bodyguards and exited the office.

Meanwhile, the third Singh, armed with the Sten gun, waited outside with the scooter. As a crowd began to gather, a local shop worker, Shyam Sundar, attempted to attack the third Singh with a chair. Reacting swiftly, Jinda and Sukha fired warning shots to prevent further interference.

Before fleeing, the Kharkus raised slogans proclaiming, “Khalistan Zindabad” (“Long Live Khalistan”) and “Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale Zindabad” (“Long Live Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale”). The three Singhs then mounted their scooter, riding triple-seat, and seamlessly blended into the morning rush hour traffic near the Safdarjung flyover, vanishing without a trace.

The operation resulted in the deaths of Arjun Dass and his bodyguard, with five others wounded during the attack. The precision, speed, and execution of the mission left a lasting mark on the ongoing struggle for justice within the Sikh resistance.

Assassination of Arjun Dass – In Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda’s Words

During the jail period in Pune Jail, Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda briefly wrote about the actions carried out by him and his jathebandi. Here is a brief account of Arjun Dass’s assassination, penned by Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda himself:

“When I entered his (Arjun Dass’s) office, I asked his assistant that I needed “Sahib Ji’s” signature on this passport form. I went inside the office.

Three people were seated around the ‘Dushat’ (evil man) Arjun Dass, who was on a phone call. After finishing the call, he started talking to those people. I stayed there for about 2-3 minutes and then quietly left his office. No one noticed us.

This ‘Dushat’ had killed many Sikhs during November 1984. He also burned Gurdwaras and committed numerous atrocities against Sikhs. Brother Heera (code name of Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha), another brother, and I left our rented house to assassinate this ‘Dushat.’ The two of us (Bhai Sukha and I) reached the location on a motor scooter, while the third Singh arrived on a three-wheeler (auto-rickshaw).

Near the office of the ‘Dushat’ (Arjun Dass), we parked at a distance and removed the scooter’s number plate and stickers. The third Singh detached the magazine from the Sten gun and placed both in a leather bag. I carried a .55 revolver, and Brother Heera (Bhai Sukha) had a .38 revolver.

We reached his office around 9 a.m. and waited for him. He (Arjun Dass) arrived at his office around 10 a.m.

Around his office, there was a huge public gathering, and the (Lakshmi Bai) Market was quite large. The three of us started walking toward his office, while I moved the scooter very slowly. At that time, I was wearing a turban, and the other two brothers were clean-shaven. As we approached his office, people in the market began looking at us and became suspicious. That’s when the third brother took the Sten gun out of his bag.

In the meantime, Brother Heera (Bhai Sukha) aimed his revolver at the bodyguard’s ear. Before the bullet could hit him, the guard quickly ran away. The other guard then pulled out his pistol. At that moment, our third brother fired at the guard with his Sten gun, preventing him from shooting us. That’s how we were saved. Afterward, the third brother and Brother Heera emptied all their bullets into the chest of the ‘Dushat’ (Arjun Dass).

I also entered the office along with them. Brother Heera and I checked the body of the ‘Dushat’ to ensure he was dead, keeping our pistols ready. He was dead on the spot. Brother Heera’s revolver was now empty, so I handed him mine and took the revolver from the dead bodyguard to keep with me.

When we exited the office, an old man from a nearby tea shop moved toward the third brother, trying to attack him with a chair. At that time, the third brother’s gun magazine was empty, and he was reloading. We fired in the direction of the old man, but he ran back. Due to the third brother’s empty magazine, the old man was able to escape, even though we were at a very short distance.

The entire market scattered as people ran away, but from a distance, they seemed to enjoy watching our action. We shouted slogans of “Khalistan” and “Bhindranwale Sant,” declaring to the crowd that we had killed this ‘Dushat’ (evil man).

There was a main road nearby, and people gathered on a bridge due to the sound of gunshots. They had parked their scooters and cars and were watching the entire scene. After completing our mission, we hopped on our scooters to leave the area. A milkman on a bicycle stared at us intently, and I told Brother Heera, “Shoot that man!”

I only meant to scare him because he could potentially inform the police about us or our scooter. However, Brother Heera fired a real shot, but it missed the man. Still, the milkman was terrified and fell off his bicycle.

As we moved away, the people standing on the bridge began to disperse as well, seeing us heading in their direction on our way back. About half a kilometer down the road, we needed to take a turn to reach our hideout, but at the intersection, the traffic light was red, and a police jeep was present. It wasn’t safe for us to stop and wait at the intersection because the same cars and scooters that had been watching us from the bridge were now also at the intersection. Thus, we decided to take another road.

We had driven just about half a kilometer when we reached the house of Rajiv Gandhi. Upon noticing this, I immediately turned our scooter onto another road. We dropped off the third brother, and he caught a bus to make his way back.

I had some familiarity with the roads of Delhi, which played a major role in saving us. Otherwise, we might have wandered around aimlessly. As we continued forward, we encountered a large police checkpoint. We were passing through an area with ministers’ residences, where guards were posted at their doors.

Upon seeing the checkpoint, I alerted Brother Heera (Bhai Sukha), saying, “Be prepared; we may have to fire!”
Brother Heera fearlessly responded, “Don’t worry at all. Vatt Kadd Diaange (I am fully prepared for any situation)!”

We always encouraged each other whenever we faced a difficult situation. But Waheguru protected us with His blessings. Eventually, we reached our hideout by navigating through small streets. No one was able to note down the number or color of our scooter.”

From Book: Assi Atwaddi Nahi

Aftermath

The assassination of Arjun Dass was a bold and high-risk operation due to its location. Laxmibai Market was a bustling area, and Dass’s office was merely 100 yards from the busy Safdarjung flyover, which was packed with office-goers at that time of the morning. The proximity to such a heavily trafficked area significantly increased the risk of capture during the escape.

Within 10 minutes of the incident, the police arrived at the scene. Bloodstains and 29 spent bullet casings were the only evidence left behind. By 10:30 am, Authorities swiftly blocked all exit points from New Delhi and launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the assassins. Delhi Police Commissioner Ved Marwah announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for any information leading to their capture.

As news of the assassination broke, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, accompanied by his Home Minister S.B. Chavan, visited AIIMS, where the bodies of Arjun Dass and his bodyguard were taken. Gandhi met with Dass’s grieving family and offered his condolences, portraying solidarity with the bereaved.

Arjun Dass’s funeral took place the following day, on September 5, 1985. Amid the somber chants of Hindu prayers and the wailing of family members, Rajiv Gandhi, his wife Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister S.B. Chavan and several senior Congress Party leaders attended the ceremony. They stood silently as smoke and flames consumed Dass’s sandalwood funeral pyre. The event underscored the loss of a key ally for the Congress leadership.

In response to Dass’s assassination, heightened security measures were implemented for other politicians who had been implicated in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Prominent figures such as MP Jagdish Tytler, MP Dharam Dass Shastri, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs H.K.L. Bhagat received round-the-clock protection. The Special Frontier Force (SFF) was deployed, assigning over 2,000 armed personnel equipped with Sten guns, carbines, and West German submachine guns, along with 500 vehicles, to safeguard individuals believed to be on the Kharkus’ hit list. These measures reflected the escalating tensions and the vulnerability of those implicated in the pogrom.

Chronology of Events

During these assassinations, a series of significant events and assassinations occurred, which, while not conclusively connected, were often perceived by the media as part of an interlinked chain of actions. These events formed a critical timeline:

• 24 July 1985 – The Rajiv–Longowal Accord was signed, an agreement aimed at resolving the Punjab crisis, though it faced significant opposition from many Sikh factions.
• 31 July 1985 – Assassination of Lalit Maken and Gitanjali: Lalit Maken, a Congress leader implicated in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, was killed along with his wife, Gitanjali, by Kharku Singhs in a high-profile operation.
• 20 August 1985 – Assassination of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal: Sant Longowal, a key Sikh leader who supported the Accord, was assassinated by Sikh Kharkus opposed to the agreement, viewing it as a betrayal of Sikh sovereignty.
• 4 September 1985 – Assassination of Arjun Dass.
• 25 September 1985 – Punjab Elections: Punjab polls were scheduled after 2 years of presidential rule since 1983.

Video Aftermath of Arjun Dass Assassination

Following the assassination of Arjun Dass, several news outlets captured the immediate aftermath, documenting the chaos at the crime scene. this AP Archive Video showed the blood-stained office and frantic activity as police officers examined the area, collecting evidence such as bullet casings and other forensic materials. The crowded Laxmibai Market, buzzing with daily activity, was suddenly transformed into a tense and heavily guarded zone.

 

The footage also highlighted the arrival of law enforcement and emergency services within minutes of the incident. Interviews with local shopkeepers and witnesses revealed shock and fear as they recounted the audacious daylight assassination. Initial video clips outside of AIIMS, showed his family members in deep mourning, while others captured the heightened security measures being implemented across Delhi for other political figures.

Media outlets used this video coverage to emphasize the growing unrest and tensions in the aftermath of the 1984 Sikh pogrom, underlining how individuals like Arjun Dass became targets of retribution by the Kharkus.