{{Short description|1987 Indian anti-separatist military operation}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{For|the French operation in Algeria|Operation Blue Bird}}{{for|the startup|X Corp. v. Operation Bluebird}}
The post of the Assam Rifles near Oinam village, Manipur, India was attacked and looted by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) on 9th July, 1987. This act resulted in the killing of nine jawans of the post and the looting of a large amount of machinery and ammunition.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2018-10-07|title=Manipur : 5 things you should know about Operation Bluebird and its horror story|url=https://thenortheasttoday.com/tntvideos/features/manipur-5-things-you-should-know-about-operation-bluebird/cid2513867.htm|access-date=2021-09-16|website=thenortheasttoday.com}}</ref> In response to this act, and to retain the looted firearms, Operation Bluebird was launched by Indian Army officials.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Haksar |first=Nandita |author-link=Nandita Haksar |date=16 July 2019 |title=Manipur killings, 1987: Charges against Assam Rifles disposed of – though evidence has gone missing |url=https://scroll.in/article/928469/manipur-killings-1987-charges-against-assam-rifles-disposed-of-though-evidence-has-gone-missing |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> The search operation continued for more than three months until October 1987 in more than 30 villages but no arms and ammunitions were recovered.<ref name=":2" />
==History== However, the villagers were brutally tortured, human-rights were violated on a large scale during this period and even pregnant women were forced to give birth to their babies in the presence of the jawans.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Innocent villagers were tortured by the high-ranked military officials and even some of them were buried alive after third degree torture.<ref name=":0" /> More than 300 people claimed to be tortured, 3 women claimed to be raped and 5 claimed of being molested.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Karmakar |first=Rahul |date=5 November 2014 |title=Manipur's horror: When Operation Bluebird struck terror |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/manipur-s-horror-when-operation-bluebird-struck-terror/story-0FTWgabR6PJesb9dd9xMUL.html |access-date=17 October 2024 |work=The Hindustan Times}}</ref> The villagers were also forced to prepare food for the soldiers for more than 2 months until the villagers ended their granary stocks.<ref name=":1" />
After months of suffering the villagers requested the regional government for help, to which the CM of Manipur wrote to the Home Minister and even met Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi regarding the torture and killing of the villagers by the soldiers of Assam Rifles. But this step enraged the military officers and they even tried to trap the Chief Minister, and other MP and MLA's in false cases of being involved in Anti-Nationalist Activities.<ref name=":0" />
Later, petition against the army officials was filed by the villagers in the Gauhati High Court. For more than 28 years, no action was taken on this case and later, due to the absence of any other records except the pleadings of the villagers it was discarded.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bluebird, Operation}} Category:1987 murders in India Category:Conflicts in 1987 Category:Insurgency in Northeast India Category:1980s in Manipur Category:Looting in India Category:Military operations involving India Category:Extrajudicial killings by the Indian military Category:Indian military scandals Category:Crime in Manipur Category:Torture during wars Category:Deaths by live burial Category:Wartime sexual violence in Asia Category:Rape in India Category:Rape in the 1980s Category:Violence against women in India Category:Attacks on military installations in India Category:Attacks on military installations in 1987 Category:Torture in India