The Jinjira massacre (Bengali: জিঞ্জিরা গণহত্যা, romanized: Jiñjirā gaṇahatyā) was a planned killing of civilians by the Pakistan army during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971.
| Jinjira massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Bangladesh genocide | |
| Location | Jinjira, Dhaka, East Pakistan |
| Date | April 1, 1971 |
| Target | Mostly Bengali Hindus |
Attack type | massacre, ethnic cleansing |
| Victims | Estimated to about 3,000 |
| Perpetrators | Pakistani Army |
The killing took place at the unions Jinjira, Kalindi and Shubhadya of Keraniganj Upazila across the Buriganga River from Dhaka.[1]
Background
editThe 1971 Bangladesh atrocities began as the Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971 to suppress the Bengali uprising in then East Pakistan. As a reaction, people from Dhaka flocked to Keraniganj on the other side of the river. The union Jinjira and nearby areas were inhabited by a large number of Hindu families.[1] The elements of Pakistan army, now in control of Dhaka city after the crackdown of 25 March marked Jinjira and surrounding area as a target for military operation.
Massacre
editThe army started to amass forces around Keraniganj from midnight of 1 April.[2] They took control of the Mitford Hospital by the river. At around 5 am, they commenced the attack by throwing flares from the roof of the mosque adjacent to the hospital.[1] The army moved into Jinjira and opened fire on people. The massacre continued for nearly nine hours. One of the largest such executions took place beside a pond near Nandail Dak Street, where 60 people were lined up and shot. The soldiers also fired on the houses using gunpowder[clarification needed].[2] More than a thousand people died in this massacre.[3]
Cover-up in the Pakistani media
editIn the night of 2 April Pakistan Television broadcast news about strong military action against separatist miscreants taking shelter at Jinjira of Keraniganj on the other side of Buriganga.[1] On 3 April The Morning News came up with the headline "Actions taken against miscreants at Jinjira".[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Atmokotha 1971 (My story 1971) by Nirmalendu Gun, Bangla Prokash, 2008 (page 147)
- ^ a b Swadhinota Juddher Dolilpatra the 8th edition (Page 376-378)
- ^ The Daily Bangla, 13 November 1972
- ^ Ekatturer Dinguli (Days of 71) by Jahanara Imam, Shandhani publications, 2005 (page 56)