Massacre at Ajnala

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Massacre at Ajnala
Part of Indian Mutiny
Date: 30 July and 1 August 1857
Location: Ajnala, near Balghat, Punjab
19 miles from Lahore
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 31.84°N 74.76°E
Result: Destruction of regiment
Combatants
East India Company Rebel sepoys
Commanders
Strength
80 Sikh horse 26th Bengal Native Infantry 500+
Casualties
None 150 killed by villagers & police
35 drowned
45 died in gaol
237 shot
42 blown from guns in Lahore

The 26th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry was disarmed on 13 May 1857 at Meean Meer. On 30 July Major Spencer was murdered and the regiment fled south unarmed to the River Ravi. The next day they were attacked by villagers and police and 150 were killed. They retreated to an island in the river and then surrendered to Mr Francis Cooper, Deputy Commissioner of the Punjab, and a detachment of Sikh horse. They assumed they would be court martialled but were summarily executed.

External Links

Indian Mutiny 1857-58 The British Empire
Massacre at Ajnala Google Books

Recommended Reading

"Indian Mutiny" by Saul David 2002 ISBN 0141005548