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The first and only woman Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi was also known as the “Iron Lady of India”. She was assassinated on October 31, 1984, in New Delhi. The news of this powerful figure’s tragic death shook the nation. There have been many theories and conspiracies surrounding her assassination, but the most important question that frequently comes up is Who killed Indira Gandhi?
The Last Day of Indira Gandhi
On the day of 31st October 1984, Indira Gandhi was on her way to be interviewed by British actor Peter Ustinov for a documentary. He even assisted her in documenting her life a day earlier in Bhubaneshwar. She started her day with breakfast and left her residence to the nearby location 1 Akbar Road.
- She left around 9:10 am and was walking with her constable Narayan Singh, her security officer Rameshwar Dayal and her personal secretary RK Dhawan.
- As she walked through the garden on her way to the interview, she was approached by two of her own bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. Little did she know that they were not there to protect her but to take her life.
- While she was standing and having conversations at the gates of 1 Akbar Road, a sudden bullet hit her in her abdomen.
- Her bodyguard Beant Singh fired two rounds from his revolver.
- The other bodyguard, Satwant Singh at the instruction of Beant Singh unloaded his carbine with all 25 bullets piercing Indira Gandhi and Rameshwar Dayal.
- The shots rang out, and the Prime Minister of India fell to the ground, mortally wounded.
- She was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at around 9:32 am.
- Despite the best efforts of the doctors, she succumbed to her injuries. Her treatment took nearly five hours and 80 bottles of blood.
- She was declared dead by 2:23 pm and hours later, the news was finally broken by BBC.
The most widely accepted theory is that the assassination was carried out by the bodyguards as an act of revenge for the military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
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Following the assassination, an investigation was launched, and both Satwant Singh and Beant Singh were arrested. They were later tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for their role in the assassination of Indira Gandhi. During interrogation, Beant Singh was shot to death. Satwant Singh on the other hand, along with his co-conspirator Kehar Singh were executed by hanging in Tihar Jail.
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This blog was all about who killed Indira Gandhi. If you want to read more articles like this, you can get Short notes on the Modern History of India here. Also, you can visit our general knowledge page on Indian History!