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Kamoke train massacre or 1947
| 1947 Kamoke train massacre | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kamoke |
| Coordinates | 31°58′35″N 74°13′19″E / 31.9765147°N 74.2220167°E |
| Date | 24 September 1947 |
| Target | Hindu and Sikh refugees |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | 408 (per government report)[1] |
| Injured | 587 (per government report)[1] |
| Perpetrators | Muslims |
The Kamoke train massacre occurred on 24 September 1947, when a group of Hindu and Sikh refugees was attacked by a Muslim mob in Kamoke, Pakistan, shortly after the partition of India.[2] The train was carrying approximately 3,000 to 3,500 refugees from West Punjab when it was ambushed about 25 miles from Lahore by a mob consisting of thousands of Muslims.[3][4] Estimates of the death toll vary significantly; officials from West Punjab reported around 400 deaths, while sources from East Punjab suggested that the number of casualties could be in the thousands. In addition to the fatalities, about 600 female refugees were abducted by the Muslim mob.[5][6] The massacre was facilitated by local railway officials, members of the Muslim League National Guards, and other local criminals who participated in both the violence and the abductions of surviving women.[7]
Massacre[edit]
A train filled with Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab was on its way to dominion of India when it was forced to stop for the night, likely due to damage to the tracks. Many of the refugees were in open livestock wagons.[3] Throughout the night, Muslim gangs were seen wandering near the train, and by morning, a large Muslim mob had gathered outside.[5] At noon, the train was attacked, resulting in the deaths of many refugees, while young women and girls were abducted by the Muslim mob.[8] The assault reportedly lasted about 40 minutes, with Muslim mob approaching the train from the rear.[6][9] Troops escorting the train, which included 13 Hindu and 8 Muslim soldiers, fired back at the attackers, killing 78 of them.[4][9] After the massacre, the train was taken to Gujranwala so that the injured could receive medical attention.[4]
Casualties[edit]
Initial estimates from the West Punjab government indicated that 340 people had died and around 250 were injured in the attack.[4] In However, a week later, The Tribune reported that only 150 of the 3,500 refugees had survived, implying a significantly higher death toll.[2] G.D. Khosla noted that "almost the entire body of passengers was killed", and approximately 600 women and girls were taken by the Muslim mob.[10] A report from Pakistan's Punjab police later stated that the death toll was 408, with an additional 587 individuals reported injured. The police also mentioned that a "large number" of female refugees had been abducted during the incident.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ahmed 2022, p. 457.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ahmed 2022, p. 456.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Khosla 1989, p. 151.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Another Indian Train Massacre". The Daily News. 26 September 1947. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Khosla 1989, p. 152.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Train Passengers Slaughtered". The Muswellbrook Chronicle. 26 September 1947. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ Major, Andrew (1995), "Abduction of women during the partition of the Punjab", South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 18 (1): 62, doi:10.1080/00856409508723244,
Describing the massacre of refugees at Kamoke, in Gujranwala district, on 24 September 1947, an Indian official wrote, 'The most ignoble feature of the tragedy was the distribution of young girls amongst the members of the Police Force, the National Guards and the local goondas. The S.H.O. [Station House Officer] Dildar Hussain collected the victims in an open space near Kamoke Railway Station and gave a free hand to the mob. After the massacre was over, the girls were distributed like sweets.'
- ↑ Khosla 1989, pp. 151-152.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Moslems attack train, slay Hindus, Sikhs". Northern Advocate. 26 September 1947. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ Khosla 1989, p.152: "At 12 noon, the train was attacked and almost the entire body of passengers was killed. About six hundred young girls were carried away.".