Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre

• Gandhiji gave a call for a mighty hartal on 6 April 1919. The people responded with unprecedented enthusiasm.

• The Government decided to meet the popular protest with repression, particularly in the Punjab.

• An unarmed but large crowd had gathered on 13 April 1919 at Jallianwalla Bagh to protest against the arrest of their popular leaders, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal.

• Jallianwala Bagh (located in Amritsar, Punjab) was a large open space which was enclosed on three sides by buildings and had only one exit.

• General Dyer surrounded the Bagh (garden) with his army until closed the exit with his troops, and then ordered his men to shoot onto the trapped crowd.

• They fired till their ammunition was exhausted. Thousands were killed and wounded.

• After this massacre, martial law was proclaimed throughout the Punjab and the people were submitted to most uncivilized atrocities.