JAMMU, Apr 13: Freedom Fighters Memorial Association (FFMA) on Saturday paid tribute to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Maheshpura Chowk, here.
FFMA Chairman Rajiv Mahajan, speaking on the occasion, described the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as one of the most brutal incidents in the history of India, which resulted in the martyrdom of nearly 1,000 people.
Highlighting the incident, Prof. S. S Balwal President of Association said, “On 13th April, 1919 people began to gather in Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate Baisakhi. On that day 1000 people were thronged in the Bagh. General Dyer had kept eagle eyes on all the developments and was prepared to pounce on his prey at any moment. As he saw small ferment in Bagh he intruded there by narrow lane led to Bagh. He came there with a picket of fifty Army Platoons comprising of twenty five Gorkhas and twenty five of Balochis. As he entered he sealed the only exit of Bagh. Without warning he ordered his picket to take position and fire on unarmed innocent civilians. The sound of guns and cries of crowd rent the air. Few people jumped over the wall, many dived into well, women bravely faced bullets while looking for their children, some old people took shelter under erected podium and many laid down on ground to avoid the volley of bullets.”
Rajiv Mahajan further added, “The barbarity of General continued for consecutive ten minutes. After ten minutes when firing was ceased the appearance of Bagh was giving the glimpses of holocaust. Human blood was sprawling on the ground, human bodies strewn upon everywhere.”
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs among whom many were from J&K, Rajiv Mahajan observed that their sacrifice will be remembered by the generations to come and will always serve as an inspiration for people to safeguard their sovereignty which came after so much struggle and sacrifices.
Others present on the occasion included Karnail Chand (Working President), Pritam Sharma (Vice President), Parbhat Kapahi (Office Secretary) and others.