The Weight of History
Amritsar carries its history like a heavy but proud burden. Walk through Jallianwala Bagh, and you can almost hear the echoes of 1919, when British soldiers gunned down hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children. That wound changed India forever, turning Amritsar into a symbol of defiance against oppression. The bullet marks on the walls whisper: this city has bled, but it’s never bowed.
In 1984, Amritsar faced another heartbreak Operation Blue Star. The Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple to remove Sikh militants demanding Khalistan. The operation left the holy shrine damaged, countless lives lost, and a community shattered. Imagine the pain of seeing a sacred space under siege. The ripples of that grief led to Indira Gandhi’s assassination and anti-Sikh riots, leaving scars that still ache for many in Amritsar.
Then came the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Just 50 kilometers from Lahore, Amritsar’s people grew used to the sound of shelling, the fear of air raids, and border villages emptying out. It’s a strange normalcy, living so close to a line that could erupt any moment, yet still praying for peace.
2025: A City on Edge
This year, Amritsar’s name has been pulled back into the spotlight, and it’s been hard to witness. It began with Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, when India launched missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. The strikes answered a horrific attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, where 26 civilians died. India hit back hard, targeting groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, taking out 70 terrorists.
But war spills over. Pakistan reportedly retaliated with shelling along the Line of Control, and soon, social media was flooded with rumors about Amritsar. Some claimed Pakistan fired missiles at the Golden Temple or military bases. Others shared videos of supposed attacks, saying the city was under siege. My heart sank reading these how could anyone target a place so sacred, so loved?
Thankfully, most claims were false. India’s Press Information Bureau debunked a viral video that was actually footage of a 2024 wildfire in Chile, not an attack on Amritsar. Reports of missile fragments in nearby villages were real but from intercepted projectiles, not direct hits. Amritsar’s police chief, Gurpreet Bhullar, also dismissed rumors of blasts, saying the city was safe despite odd sounds in the night. Still, the fear was real. Hearing “Amritsar under attack” tightens your chest.
Blackouts and Brave Hearts
To prepare for the worst, Amritsar held blackout drills under Operation Abhyaas on May 7 and 8. Picture the Golden Temple, usually glowing like a beacon, plunged into darkness. Streetlights off, homes dimmed, everyone asked to stay inside it was eerie. These drills, part of a nationwide effort, practiced for air raids or other attacks. It’s the kind of thing that shows how close danger feels.
In the city, people were anxious. Some older folks recalled the 1971 war and talked about leaving Amritsar. But in border villages like Daoke, life went on. Farmers couldn’t reach fields past the border fence, but they stayed put, no evacuation orders in sight. Their courage amazes me living on the edge, yet carrying on like it’s just another day.
Smaller Attacks, Big Fears
It’s not just military tensions keeping Amritsar on edge. Smaller, targeted attacks hit hard too. In March, a grenade struck the Thakurdwara temple in Khandwala, damaging the building but sparing lives. The attackers were linked to Pakistan’s ISI, and one was killed in a police shootout. On March 14, a man attacked people inside the Golden Temple with an iron rod, injuring five, including devotees. In December 2024, bullets were fired at the Golden Temple during a political event, though no one was harmed.
On May 1, the BSF and Punjab Police found a stash of weapons grenades, pistols, ammo near the border. It was a close call, a reminder that terrorists are still trying to strike. These incidents make you wonder: how much more can this city endure?
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about Amritsar it’s tied to the messy geopolitics of India and Pakistan. After Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s media and some social media accounts pushed stories about attacking Amritsar, trying to paint India as the aggressor. It’s propaganda that feeds on fear. India’s been clear: the Pahalgam attack was the real escalation, and Sindoor targeted terrorists, not war. The U.S. and U.K. backed India, saying it had a right to hit back.
Locally, tensions are high. Punjab’s government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, faces criticism for not stopping these attacks. The BJP and Congress say law and order is crumbling. For Sikhs, every attack on the Golden Temple feels personal. Some social media posts falsely claimed the Indian Army was targeting Sikhs, stirring up old wounds from 1984, though there’s no evidence to support this.
The Spirit of Amritsar
Through it all, Amritsar keeps going. Hospitals, from big private ones to government facilities, are ready if things worsen. The BSF and police are vigilant, catching arms smugglers and securing the border. And the people? They’re tough. Villagers farm under restrictions, city folks endure blackouts, and everyone holds tight to their faith.
The Golden Temple stands as a symbol of peace, even when the world around it feels chaotic. Amritsar’s been through too much to let fear win. It’s a city that knows how to heal, pray, and fight back with hope.
Looking Ahead
Amritsar’s story isn’t over. As long as it sits near that border, it’ll face threats missiles, grenades, or rumors that spread like wildfire. But it’s also a place of incredible strength. The government’s tackling disinformation, security forces are stepping up, and the community’s rooted in its faith.
I dream of a day when “Amritsar under attack” is just a memory, not a headline. Until then, this city will keep shining, a light no darkness can extinguish. That’s what Amritsar does it endures, it loves, it rises.
Amritsar carries its history like a heavy but proud burden. Walk through Jallianwala Bagh, and you can almost hear the echoes of 1919, when British soldiers gunned down hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children. That wound changed India forever, turning Amritsar into a symbol of defiance against oppression. The bullet marks on the walls whisper: this city has bled, but it’s never bowed.
In 1984, Amritsar faced another heartbreak Operation Blue Star. The Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple to remove Sikh militants demanding Khalistan. The operation left the holy shrine damaged, countless lives lost, and a community shattered. Imagine the pain of seeing a sacred space under siege. The ripples of that grief led to Indira Gandhi’s assassination and anti-Sikh riots, leaving scars that still ache for many in Amritsar.
Then came the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Just 50 kilometers from Lahore, Amritsar’s people grew used to the sound of shelling, the fear of air raids, and border villages emptying out. It’s a strange normalcy, living so close to a line that could erupt any moment, yet still praying for peace.
2025: A City on Edge
This year, Amritsar’s name has been pulled back into the spotlight, and it’s been hard to witness. It began with Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, when India launched missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. The strikes answered a horrific attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, where 26 civilians died. India hit back hard, targeting groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, taking out 70 terrorists.
But war spills over. Pakistan reportedly retaliated with shelling along the Line of Control, and soon, social media was flooded with rumors about Amritsar. Some claimed Pakistan fired missiles at the Golden Temple or military bases. Others shared videos of supposed attacks, saying the city was under siege. My heart sank reading these how could anyone target a place so sacred, so loved?
Thankfully, most claims were false. India’s Press Information Bureau debunked a viral video that was actually footage of a 2024 wildfire in Chile, not an attack on Amritsar. Reports of missile fragments in nearby villages were real but from intercepted projectiles, not direct hits. Amritsar’s police chief, Gurpreet Bhullar, also dismissed rumors of blasts, saying the city was safe despite odd sounds in the night. Still, the fear was real. Hearing “Amritsar under attack” tightens your chest.
Blackouts and Brave Hearts
To prepare for the worst, Amritsar held blackout drills under Operation Abhyaas on May 7 and 8. Picture the Golden Temple, usually glowing like a beacon, plunged into darkness. Streetlights off, homes dimmed, everyone asked to stay inside it was eerie. These drills, part of a nationwide effort, practiced for air raids or other attacks. It’s the kind of thing that shows how close danger feels.
In the city, people were anxious. Some older folks recalled the 1971 war and talked about leaving Amritsar. But in border villages like Daoke, life went on. Farmers couldn’t reach fields past the border fence, but they stayed put, no evacuation orders in sight. Their courage amazes me living on the edge, yet carrying on like it’s just another day.
Smaller Attacks, Big Fears
It’s not just military tensions keeping Amritsar on edge. Smaller, targeted attacks hit hard too. In March, a grenade struck the Thakurdwara temple in Khandwala, damaging the building but sparing lives. The attackers were linked to Pakistan’s ISI, and one was killed in a police shootout. On March 14, a man attacked people inside the Golden Temple with an iron rod, injuring five, including devotees. In December 2024, bullets were fired at the Golden Temple during a political event, though no one was harmed.
On May 1, the BSF and Punjab Police found a stash of weapons grenades, pistols, ammo near the border. It was a close call, a reminder that terrorists are still trying to strike. These incidents make you wonder: how much more can this city endure?
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about Amritsar it’s tied to the messy geopolitics of India and Pakistan. After Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s media and some social media accounts pushed stories about attacking Amritsar, trying to paint India as the aggressor. It’s propaganda that feeds on fear. India’s been clear: the Pahalgam attack was the real escalation, and Sindoor targeted terrorists, not war. The U.S. and U.K. backed India, saying it had a right to hit back.
Locally, tensions are high. Punjab’s government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, faces criticism for not stopping these attacks. The BJP and Congress say law and order is crumbling. For Sikhs, every attack on the Golden Temple feels personal. Some social media posts falsely claimed the Indian Army was targeting Sikhs, stirring up old wounds from 1984, though there’s no evidence to support this.
The Spirit of Amritsar
Through it all, Amritsar keeps going. Hospitals, from big private ones to government facilities, are ready if things worsen. The BSF and police are vigilant, catching arms smugglers and securing the border. And the people? They’re tough. Villagers farm under restrictions, city folks endure blackouts, and everyone holds tight to their faith.
The Golden Temple stands as a symbol of peace, even when the world around it feels chaotic. Amritsar’s been through too much to let fear win. It’s a city that knows how to heal, pray, and fight back with hope.
Looking Ahead
Amritsar’s story isn’t over. As long as it sits near that border, it’ll face threats missiles, grenades, or rumors that spread like wildfire. But it’s also a place of incredible strength. The government’s tackling disinformation, security forces are stepping up, and the community’s rooted in its faith.
I dream of a day when “Amritsar under attack” is just a memory, not a headline. Until then, this city will keep shining, a light no darkness can extinguish. That’s what Amritsar does it endures, it loves, it rises.
