A violent sword battle broke out at Sikhism’s holiest temple today during a special prayer ceremony to mark the government massacre that took place there 30 years ago.

At least six people were injured as dozens of Sikh radicals clashed with supporters of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) at the revered Golden Temple, in Amritsar, Punjab State.

It is understood the scuffle erupted over who would speak first at the service, held to remember victims of military offensive Operation Blue Star that left hundreds dead on June 6, 1984, when soldiers stormed the compound in a bid to flush out separatist insurgents holed up in the temple.

Earlier today, hundreds had gathered at the temple to mark the massacre’s anniversary.

But proceedings took an ugly turn when Simranjeet Singh Mann, local head of Sikh political party Shiromani Akali Dal, and his supporters forcibly tried to deliver a speech from the temple’s rostrum.

The situation was made worse by the fact that police personnel are not permitted inside the Golden Temple.

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