Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: Even after more than a century, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is still remembered as the darkest day in Indian history. The Amritsar massacre, also known as the Baisakhi massacre, occurred on April 13, 1919, during the Baisakhi celebration.
General Reginald Dyer ordered his forces to fire on the people who were peacefully protesting at Jallianwala Bagh.
Millions of people assembled at the Jallianwala Bagh to commemorate Baisakhi and to march peacefully for the two leaders, Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew’s detention. However, locals were unaware that public meetings and rallies were prohibited. Dyer walked into the Jallianwala Bagh with his soldiers and barred the entrance. Without warning, he ordered his forces to open fire on the defenseless citizens.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 7 lesser-unknown facts that you must know
There was only one gate for the entry and exit of the people. Jallianwala Bagh was an empty plot of land surrounded by homes whose back walls were facing the area. It was three-sided closed.
Punjab has declared martial law:
Punjab has declared martial law. On April 10, a rally was staged to demand the release of these leaders, during which some protestors were slain by police. Due to the deterioration of the situation, the government declared martial law in Punjab and entrusted law and order to Brigadier-General Dyer.
General Dyer:
Then General Dyer arrived with a force of 100 troops, including 50 armed men, and commanded soldiers to fire at the defenseless civilians in the crowd.
Mass peaceful protests:
On April 13, 1919, thousands of protestors organized a peaceful protest against the Colonial government’s harsh Rowlatt Act and demanded the release of both leaders.
Several people jumped into the well:
The garden was in disarray as people leaped into the well. People began fleeing for their lives. Many individuals jumped into the garden’s well (known as Martyr Well). After the shooting, more than 200 corpses were retrieved from the well.
The only person who survived:
Shingara Singh, the last known survivor of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, died on June 29, 2009, in Amritsar. He was 113 years old.
