THE SHARAQPUR MASSACRE

Sharaqpur is a municipal Town and a Sub-Tehsil of District Sheikhupura. It is twenty miles from Lahore situated on the main Lahore-Lyallpur Road.

Its population was ten thousand consisting of 10% Hindus and Sikhs.

Leading Muslim Leaguers of the city gave us assurance by oath of holy Quran for protection.

As advised by Mahatma Gandhi and believing the false assurance of Mr. Jinnah we determined to continue in Pakistan.

Suddenly on 27th August, 1947 we met with unprecedented brutality.

At 9 a.m. on that day a party consisting of the following men:

(1) Mr. Fazil Ilahi Kahli (President, Muslim League).

(2) Mr. Mohd. Rafiq s/o Khair Din (Secretary, Muslim League).

(3) Mr. Mohd. Rashid s/o Khair Din (Secretary, Muslim League).

(4) Mohd. Shafi Bhatti (member, Muslim National Guard).

(5) Ibrahim Kasuria (member, Muslim National Guard).

(6) Haji Mohd. Sharif (Partner of Sharaqpur Bus Society).

(7) Shapha S/o Mohd. Sadiq Bharo Motor Driver.

(8) Ch. Sadar Din, Sub-Inspector of Police.

(9) Mr. Chima, Assistant Sub-Inspector.

(10) With four constables, armed with guns, rifles 303 and sten guns, attacked the non-Muslims and began to murder Hindus and Sikhs, with brutality which cannot be expected from a human being.

It is necessary to mention here that there was not a single man from outside among those brutes. They did not even spare the Government employees, i.e., Mr. Tek Chand Nanda, Second Master, Government School, Sharaqpur was thrown off his house and shot dead. L. Moti Ram Gulati (a vendor) was first maimed and later on shot dead.

L. Labha Ram Sethi Lumbardar�s eye-balls were removed and later on he was thrown alive into Deg Nala.

Small children were struck against the walls and some were cut into pieces.

Total number of those escaped from those brutes was seventy-one out of one thousand. All were left penniless.

Fifteen girls were abducted and whole property of Hindu-Sikh minority was looted.

All the corpses were removed by lorries to Deg Nala.

After that gold and jewellery worth three lakhs recovered from Ch. Sadar Din, Sub-Inspector by the higher authorities and was deposited in the Treasury of Pakistan.

Now our Government have recovered only three out of the abducted girls because Pakistan Government does not agree to surrender the remaining twelve.

Another fact which I want -to tell here is that most of the assailants were Khoja Mohammadans and they had given us assurance with the oath of holy Quran for protection.

Sd. Hans Raj Gulati. Medical Practitioner, (Municipal Commissioner of Sharaqpur) Now at Panipat, District Karnal.