Shaheedan da Khu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shaheedan da Khu
Kalianwala Khu ( Black well) or Shaheedan da Khu
Show map of Punjab Show map of India Location of Ajnala in India
Location	Ajnala, Amritsar, Punjab, British India
Coordinates	31°50′N 74°46′E / 31.84°N 74.76°E / 31.84; 74.76
Date	August 31, 1857; 166 years ago (1857-08-31) (IST)
Target	Soldiers of Rebel of 1857 of India
Attack type	Massacre
Weapons	rifles and stuffed in a small room, where many died of asphyxiation
Deaths	282
Non-fatal injuries	~
Perpetrators	British India Authorities

Shaheedan da Khu or Kalianwala Khu is a well near Ajnala in northwestern India. The bodies of Indian soldiers killed during the Sepoy mutiny of 1857 were disposed of here, over 60 of which were recovered in 2014.

Disposal and recovery of bodies

During the 1857 Sepoy mutiny, many Indian soldiers revolted against the British. Around 500 revolted at Mian Mir Cantonment in Lahore. They swam across the Ravi River to reach the town of Ajnala, now in Amritsar district. Of them, 218 were killed by British soldiers at Dadian Sofian village near Ajnala. The remaining 282 were stuffed in a small room, where many died of asphyxiation. The rest were shot dead and their bodies were thrown into a well, which was later named "Kalianwala Khu" and "Shaheedan da Khu".

In February 2014, the remains of 22 of the soldiers were dug out from the well. The incident came to light after it was reported in major newspapers. On further digging on 1 March 2014, 40 more bodies were recovered.

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