1947 Amritsar train massacre: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Massacre of Indian refugees by Muslims}}
{{short description|1947 massacre in Amritsar, India}}
{{short description|1947 Massacre in Amritsar perpetrated by Muslims that led to the deaths of 3000 Sikhs and Hindus.}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title     = 1947 Amritsar train massacre
| title           = 1947 Amritsar train massacre
| subheader =  
| subheader       =  
| image     = Partition of Punjab, India 1947.jpg
| image           = Partition of Punjab, India 1947.jpg
| caption   = Muslim refugees boarding a train in September 1947, similar to those involved in the massacre, with the intent of fleeing India.
| caption         = Muslim refugees boarding a train in September 1947, similar to those involved in the massacre, with the intent of fleeing India.
| location   = [[Amritsar]]
| location         = [[Amritsar]]
| target     = [[Refugees]]<br>[[Muslims]]
| target           = [[Muslims]]
| date       = September 22nd 1947
| date             = September 22nd 1947
| time       =  
| time             =  
| timezone   =  
| timezone         =  
| type       = [[Massacre]]
| type             = [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = 3000
| fatalities       = 3000
| perps     = [[Sikhs]], [[Hindus]]
| perps           = [[Sikhs]]
| dfens     =  
| dfens           =  
| motive     =  
| motive           =  
}}
}}


The '''1947 Amritsar train massacre''' was an attack on Indian [[Refugee|refugees]]. It killed 3000 [[Muslims]] and wounded a further 1000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=3000 Dead in Indian Train Massacre - Australian Associated Press New Delhi, September 25th|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36001501|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>
The '''1947 Amritsar train massacre''' was an attack on Indian [[refugee]]s. It killed 3000 [[Muslims]] and wounded a further 1000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=3000 Dead in Indian Train Massacre - Australian Associated Press New Delhi, September 25th|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36001501|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423161737/http://trove.nla.gov.au:80/newspaper/article/36001501 |archive-date=2016-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}</ref>


This massacre is one of many on trains carrying refugees that happened during the 1947 [[Partition of India|India-Pakistan Partition]], which saw the transport of around 4 million [[Refugee|refugees]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=70 years later, survivors recall the horrors of India-Pakistan partition|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/70-years-later-survivors-recall-the-horrors-of-india-pakistan-partition/2017/08/14/3b8c58e4-7de9-11e7-9026-4a0a64977c92_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>
This massacre is one of many on trains carrying refugees that happened during the 1947 [[Partition of India|India-Pakistan Partition]], which saw the transport of around 4 million [[refugee]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=70 years later, survivors recall the horrors of India-Pakistan partition|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/70-years-later-survivors-recall-the-horrors-of-india-pakistan-partition/2017/08/14/3b8c58e4-7de9-11e7-9026-4a0a64977c92_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816020838/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/70-years-later-survivors-recall-the-horrors-of-india-pakistan-partition/2017/08/14/3b8c58e4-7de9-11e7-9026-4a0a64977c92_story.html |archive-date=2017-08-16 |access-date=|website=}}</ref>


== Incident ==
== Incident ==
On Monday September 22, 1947, a train was leaving 30 miles east from [[Amritsar]] and was attacked by [[Sikhs]]. This attack was stopped. However, when the same train arrived at [[Amritsar]], it was faced with crowds of armed [[Sikhs|Sikh people]] who opened fire on it from both sides of the track.<ref name=":0" />
On Monday September 22, 1947, a train was leaving 30 miles east from [[Amritsar]] and was attacked by [[Sikhs]]. This attack was stopped. However, when the same train arrived at [[Amritsar]], it was faced with crowds of armed [[Sikhs|Sikh people]] who opened fire on it from both sides of the track.<ref name=":0" />


Trains carrying Sikh troops did pass by during the massacre, but they did not intervene. Only a few troop trains were left by Sikhs to join the massacre. <ref name=":0" />
Trains carrying Sikh troops did pass by during the massacre, but they did not intervene. Only a few troop trains were left by Sikhs to join the massacre.<ref name=":0" />


It is unknown who the escorts of the train were, but many believe it to be [[Hindu Jats]]. These escorts were ordered by British officers to fire, but going against such orders, instead fired over the attacker's heads. <ref name=":0" />
[[Hindu Jats]] saved many Muslims although were killed in the process of trying to fight against the Sikh Jathas.<ref name=":0" />


The officer of the train was left alone to fend for the passengers. He reportedly shot back at the raiders with a [[machine gun]] he possessed until it ran out of ammo. He was killed soon after losing such ammo. It has been reported that he was killed by his own men.<ref name=":0" />
The officer of the train was left alone to fend for the passengers. He reportedly shot back at the raiders with a [[machine gun]] he possessed until it ran out of ammo. He was killed soon after losing such ammo. It has been reported that he was killed by his own Sikh men.<ref name=":0" />


Men, women and children were attacked by [[Sikhs]] who swept through the train. The weapons used by [[Sikhs]] during this attack included [[Sword|swords]] and [[Spear|spears]]. This slaughter lasted for approximately three hours.<ref name=":0" />
Men, women and children were attacked by [[Sikhs]] who swept through the train. The weapons used by [[Sikhs]] during this attack included [[sword]]s and [[spear]]s along with rifles carried by ex-servicemen. This slaughter lasted for approximately three hours.<ref name=":0" />


On Tuesday September 23rd 1947, the train involved in the attack was returned to its platform.<ref name=":0" />
On Tuesday September 23, 1947, the train involved in the attack was returned to its platform.<ref name=":0" />


== Effects ==
== Effects ==
The West Punjab Government announced other attacks that happened during the 1947 [[India-Pakistan partition|India-Pakistan Partition]]. This included the attack of a refugee train in [[Kamoke]] carrying Sikh-Hindu passengers around 25 miles west of [[Lahore]] on Wednesday September 24th 1947. This attack was responsible for a further 340 deaths of both [[Sikhs]] and [[Hindus]] and wounded a further 250.<ref name=":0" />
The West Punjab Government announced other attacks that happened during the 1947 [[India-Pakistan partition|India-Pakistan Partition]]. This included the attack of a refugee train in [[Kamoke]] carrying Sikh-Hindu passengers around 25 miles west of [[Lahore]] on Wednesday September 24, 1947. This attack was responsible for a further 340 deaths of both [[Sikhs]] and [[Hindus]] and wounded a further 250.<ref name=":0" />


Meetings within the [[Indian Cabinet]] to stop further attacks were called on Thursday the 25th as reported by the Associated Press of Great Britain. Military spokesmen reported on the mounting tensions in the [[Punjab]] and the serious attacks on refugee trains and convoys.<ref name=":0" />
Meetings within the [[Indian Cabinet]] to stop further attacks were called on Thursday the 25th as reported by the Associated Press of Great Britain. Military spokesmen reported on the mounting tensions in the [[Punjab]] and the serious attacks on refugee trains and convoys.<ref name=":0" />


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
{{Reflist}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Kaur|first=Navdip|date=2011|title=VIOLENCE AND MIGRATION: A STUDY OF KILLING IN THE TRAINS DURING THE PARTITION OF PUNJAB IN 1947|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44146786|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=72|pages=947–954|issn=2249-1937}}


{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}
{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}
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[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:Massacres of Muslims]]
[[Category:Massacres of Muslims]]
[[Category:Transport in Amritsar]]  
[[Category:Transport in Amritsar]]
[[Category:1947_in_India]]  
[[Category:1947 in India]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1947]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1947]]
[[Category:Massacres in the 1940s]]  
[[Category:Massacres in 1947]]
[[Category:September 1947 events]]
[[Category:September 1947 events]]
[[Category:1947 in rail transport]]
[[Category:1947 in rail transport]]

Revision as of 17:15, 15 March 2022


1947 Amritsar train massacre
Muslim refugees boarding a train in September 1947, similar to those involved in the massacre, with the intent of fleeing India.
LocationAmritsar
DateSeptember 22nd 1947
TargetMuslims
Attack type
Massacre
Deaths3000
PerpetratorsSikhs

The 1947 Amritsar train massacre was an attack on Indian refugees. It killed 3000 Muslims and wounded a further 1000.[1]

This massacre is one of many on trains carrying refugees that happened during the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition, which saw the transport of around 4 million refugees.[2]

Incident

On Monday September 22, 1947, a train was leaving 30 miles east from Amritsar and was attacked by Sikhs. This attack was stopped. However, when the same train arrived at Amritsar, it was faced with crowds of armed Sikh people who opened fire on it from both sides of the track.[1]

Trains carrying Sikh troops did pass by during the massacre, but they did not intervene. Only a few troop trains were left by Sikhs to join the massacre.[1]

Hindu Jats saved many Muslims although were killed in the process of trying to fight against the Sikh Jathas.[1]

The officer of the train was left alone to fend for the passengers. He reportedly shot back at the raiders with a machine gun he possessed until it ran out of ammo. He was killed soon after losing such ammo. It has been reported that he was killed by his own Sikh men.[1]

Men, women and children were attacked by Sikhs who swept through the train. The weapons used by Sikhs during this attack included swords and spears along with rifles carried by ex-servicemen. This slaughter lasted for approximately three hours.[1]

On Tuesday September 23, 1947, the train involved in the attack was returned to its platform.[1]

Effects

The West Punjab Government announced other attacks that happened during the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition. This included the attack of a refugee train in Kamoke carrying Sikh-Hindu passengers around 25 miles west of Lahore on Wednesday September 24, 1947. This attack was responsible for a further 340 deaths of both Sikhs and Hindus and wounded a further 250.[1]

Meetings within the Indian Cabinet to stop further attacks were called on Thursday the 25th as reported by the Associated Press of Great Britain. Military spokesmen reported on the mounting tensions in the Punjab and the serious attacks on refugee trains and convoys.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "3000 Dead in Indian Train Massacre - Australian Associated Press New Delhi, September 25th". Archived from the original on 2016-04-23.
  2. "70 years later, survivors recall the horrors of India-Pakistan partition". Archived from the original on 2017-08-16.