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 1947 Kamoke train massacre was an attack on a refugee train and subsequent massacre of Hindu and Sikh refugees by a Muslim mob at Kamoke, Pakistan on 24 September 1947 following the partition of India.[2] The train was carrying around 3,000-3,500 refugees from West Punjab[3] and was attacked 25 miles from Lahore by a mob of thousands of Muslims.[4] Figures for the number of people killed vary, with West Punjab officials reporting figures of around 400 and East Punjab-based reports suggesting thousands of casualties. Additionally, around 600 female refugees were abducted by the attackers.[5][6] Local railway officials, Muslim League National Guards and local goons aided and participated in the massacre and the subsequent abductions of the surviving female refugees.[7]
A train carrying Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab was headed for India. Most of the refugees had been placed in open livestock wagons.[3] The train was halted for the night, apparently due to damage to the track. Muslim gangs were seen roaming around the train through the night, and by morning a large mob of Muslims gathered outside the train.[5] The train was attacked at noon and the refugees were killed. Young women and girls were abducted by the attackers.[8] The attack is reported to have lasted 40 minutes.[6] The Muslim attackers are reported to have attacked the train from the back.[9] The troops which were escorting the train, consisting of 13 Hindu and 8 Muslim soldiers — reportedly fired upon the attackers and killed 78 of them.[4][9] The train was reportedly taken to Gujranwala after the massacre so that the injured could be treated at a hospital.[4]
Initial reports put the number of dead at 340 and that of wounded at 250 as announced by the West Punjab government.[4] In reports appearing a week from the incident, The Tribune reported that only 150 people had survived out of a total 3,500 refugees, suggesting a much higher death toll.[2] G.D. Khosla states that “almost the entire body of passengers was killed”, and around 600 women and girls were abducted.[10] A report by Pakistan's Punjab police put the figure of dead at 408, with an additional 587 injured. It also reported “a large number” of female refugees abducted.[1]