Amristsar Tragedy (1919)

February 14th, 2008 | by Raja Ghias |

The immediate reaction of the authorities against hartal was to prohibit one of the leader, Satyapal, from speaking in public. This did not frighten the citizens and on 30 March a hartal was observed and a metting was held in Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar). On 4 April another leader, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, was restrained. On 6 April complete hartal was observed but peace was maintained. The Deputy Commissioner was chagrined and immediately asked for additional military force. On 9 April there was a Hindu festival and large processions of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs streamed through the streets.

 

Gandhi Jee who at the invitation of the leaders was traveling to the Punjab was stopped at Palwal and prohibited from entering the province.

 

On the next morning (10 April), Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal were deported from Amritsar to unknown place. This act of deportation touched off a new wave of injury to popular sentiment. A mammoth procession of 20,000 to 30,000 was peacefully taken out at Jallianwala Bagh in the afternoon of 13 April to protest against the arrest of the leaders. They were peacefully listening to the speeches of the leaders when General Dyer and his men appeared at the main gate. General Dyer immediately deployed his troops and without any warning, opened fire and continued firing till the ammunition ran short. The casualties were officially estimated at 379 killed and over 1,200 wounded.

 

In Gujranwala, Gujarat, Lahore, Kasur and Multan on 13 April the mobs excited by the news from Amritsar committed arson and plunder. The authorities proclaimed martial law all over the Punjab. The horrors of Lahore and Amritsar were repeated and thousands of people in cities and villages were killed. Jinnah was shocked beyond measures at the suffering of Muslim’s in Punjab under martial law.

  1. One Response to “Amristsar Tragedy (1919)”

  2. By piryashu.nagar on May 14, 2008 | Reply

    this jallianwala bagh tragedy report is correct.it helped me in making my project report.try to add pictures to ur infomation. thank u.

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