Retd Lt General K S Brar, who led Operation Bluestar against Sikh terrorists holed up inside the Golden Temple in 1984, was stabbed by four turbaned Sikhs outside his hotel in London on Sunday night, reports said.
The general, who is 78, was on a private visit to London and was staying in a hotel.
He was rushed to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and was in stable condition.
According to Indian High Commission sources, several senior attaches went to the hospital and brought Lt Gen Brar back. The general will return to Delhi on Tuesday, sources said.
Lt General Brar’s wife was also reportedly with him at the time of the assault. She was pushed to the ground, but it is unclear if she also suffered injury.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has asked the Indian High Commissioner in London to provide all assistance to Retd Lt Gen Brar.
The attackers have not been identified yet.
Lt General Brar has been on the hit-list of Sikh terrorist groups after his central role in Operation Blue star in 1984.
Lt. General K . S . Brar joined the Indian Army in 1954 as a commissioned officer and subsequently held a number of prestigious appointments finally retiring as General Officer Commanding – in – Chief of the Eastern Army.
He headed anti-militancy operations in the North-Eastern Indian states and he also headed the famous ” Operation Blue star ” in June 1984 to free the Golden Temple from about 2,000 Punjab militants entrenched inside the holy shrine.
Lt Gen. Brar was awarded the Vir Chakra for gallantry during 1971 war with Pakistan besides being the recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.