Homage paid to Jallianwala Bagh martyrs

Amritsar, Apr 13 (UNI) People from all walks of life today paid homage to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre who laid down their lives for the freedom of the nation on this day in the year 1919.

At exactly 1600 hours, sirens sounded in this Holy City to remind the residents that it was precisely at this time and on this day in that Brig Gen R E H Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a peaceful demonstration inside the Jallianwala Bagh, just a couple of metres away from the Golden Temple, which was overflowing with devotees as it was the auscpicious occasion of Baisakhi.

A number of relatives of those who had perished in the gunfire by Gen Dyer's troops were at hand today to pay their respects to the martyrs. While some stood at the Flame of Liberty, others looked into the well which became the permanent graveyard of a number of martyrs who leapt into it to escape the fury of Gen Dyer's bullets.

Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla led the dignatories in laying wreaths at the Flame of Liberty. Deputy Commissioner K S Pannu laid a wreath on behalf of the district administration.

Veteran Congress leaders Umrao Singh and Iqbal Singh who are members of the Jallainwala Bagh National Trust Memorial also laid wreaths at the memorial.

On the occasion they promised that they would take up the issue of expediting the work of restoration and renovation of the Jallianwala Bagh complex on a war footing with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is the Chairman of the Trust.

Another issue they would take up with the Prime Minister is the compilation of the names of the martyrs, as so far no authentic list exists.

A two minute silence was also observed in memory of the martyrs.

Sadly no member of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was at hand to remember the martyrs.

UNI XC-HS GL AS2134