Operation Black Thunder was a significant military operation conducted by the Indian government in 1988. Its primary objective was to eliminate the presence of militants in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation aimed to restore peace and order in the region, which had been affected by rising militancy. The operation involved a large-scale deployment of security forces and was marked by intense confrontations. It was part of a broader effort to combat separatist movements in Punjab during the late 1980s. The operation had lasting implications for the region's political landscape and communal relations.