MarieDevore at 15:55, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T15:55:53Z

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{{short description|1971 mass killing of civilians by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Jinjira massacre
| map = {{Location map|Bangladesh|lat=23.70|long=90.39|caption=}}
| map_caption =
| location = Jinjira, [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]]
| date = April 2, 1971
| partof = [[Bangladesh genocide]]
| target = Mostly [[Bengali Hindus]]
| type = [[massacre]], [[ethnic cleansing]]
| victims = Estimated to about 3,000
| perpetrators = [[Pakistani Army]]
*[[Razakars]]
}}
The '''Jinjira massacre''' ({{langx|bn|জিঞ্জিরা গণহত্যা|translit=Jiñjirā gaṇahatyā}}) was a planned killing of civilians by the [[Pakistan army]] during the [[Bangladesh liberation war]] of 1971.

The killing took place at the unions Jinjira, Kalindi and Shubhadya of [[Keraniganj Upazila]] across the [[Buriganga River]] from [[Dhaka]].<ref name="Goon" />

{{Campaignbox Bangladesh Liberation War}}

==Background==
The [[1971 Bangladesh atrocities]] began as the Pakistan army launched [[Operation Searchlight]] on 25 March 1971 to suppress the [[Bengali people|Bengali]] uprising in then [[East Pakistan]]. As a reaction, people from Dhaka flocked to Keraniganj on the other side of the river. The union Jinjira and nearby areas were inhabited by a large number of Hindu families.<ref name=Goon /> The elements of Pakistan army, now in control of Dhaka city after the crackdown of 25 March marked Jinjira and surrounding area as a target for military operation.

==Massacre==
The army started to amass forces around Keraniganj from midnight of 2 April.<ref name=Dolil>{{cite book |script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ : দলিলপত্র |title=Bāṃlādeśera svādhīnatā yuddha : dalilapatra |trans-title=History of Bangladesh War of Independence: Documents |volume=8 |year=2003 |orig-year=First published 1984 |publisher=Ministry of Information |oclc=295000537 |pages=376–378}}</ref> They took control of the Mitford Hospital by the river. At around 5 am, they commenced the attack by throwing flares from the roof of the mosque adjacent to the hospital.<ref name="Goon">''Atmokotha 1971'' (My story 1971) by [[Nirmalendu Gun]], Bangla Prokash, 2008 (page 147)</ref> The army moved into Jinjira and opened fire on people. The [[massacre]] continued for hours. One incident took place beside a pond near Nandail Dak Street, where 60 people were killed. Women were raped. The soldiers also burned down houses and left no house undamaged.<ref name=Dolil /> More than a thousand people died in this massacre.<ref>The Daily Bangla, 13 November 1972</ref>

==Cover-up in the Pakistani media==
In the night of 2 April [[Pakistan Television]] broadcast news about strong military action against separatist miscreants taking shelter at Jinjira of Keraniganj on the other side of Buriganga.<ref name=Goon /> On 3 April The Morning News came up with the headline "Actions taken against miscreants at Jinjira".<ref>''Ekatturer Dinguli'' (Days of 71) by [[Jahanara Imam]], Shandhani publications, 2005 (page 56)</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of massacres in Bangladesh]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{1971 Bangladesh genocide|state=expanded}}
{{Bangladesh liberation}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}

{{coord missing|Pakistan}}

[[Category:April 1971 in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Bangladesh genocide]]
[[Category:Massacres committed by Pakistan in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:Building and structure arson attacks in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Arson in 1971]]
[[Category:1970s fires in Asia]]
[[Category:Attacks on mosques in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1970s in Islam]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1971]]
[[Category:Cover-ups]]
[[Category:Massacres of Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan]]
[[Category:Arson in Dhaka]]
[[Category:Dhaka in the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Murder in Dhaka]]
[[Category:20th-century attacks on mosques]]
[[Category:Mosque arson in Asia]]

Jinjira massacre - Revision history

MarieDevore at 15:55, 11 January 2026