SAS officer advice not followed in Amritsar massacre

Foreign Secretary William Hague made a statement to MPs setting out the findings of an investigation into documents that suggested that a British officer helped the Indian authorities with plans to remove Sikh separatists from the city's Golden Temple in 1984 in an assault called Operation Blue Star.

He faced demands from Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden, West Bromwich East's Tom Watson and Warley's John Spellar for an inquiry while Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal has also appealed for details to be released.

Around 575 people died in the attack according to official reports, however, it has been suggested as many as 3,000 people died as a result.

Mr Hague said: "This loss of life was an utter tragedy. We fully understand the concerns raised by the two documents. They indicated the then British government sent a military officer to India to give advice. Within hours of the documents coming to light the Prime Minister asked the Cabinet secretary to carry out an investigation. In early February 1984 the then government received an urgent request for advice on how to regain control of the temple.

"A single British adviser travelled to India in February 1984 to advise the Indian services on contingency plans that they were drawing up. The adviser's assessment made clear that a military operation should only be put into place as a last resort."

He said the adviser had recommended that the last resort should include the use of helicopters and a 'surprise attack'.

Mr Hague added: "After the adviser's visit the Indian army took over the lead responsibility for the operation.

"Operation Blue Star was a ground assault without the element of surprise and without the helicopter element.

"The adviser's advice had little impact on Operation Blue Star."

He said there was no evidence that Parliament had been misled and that the UK government had received no warning from the Indian government before the operation was launched.