Who was the British commander of the troops that was responsible for Jallianwala Bagh massacre (Amritsar)?

In Amritsar, India’s holy city of the Sikh religion, British and Gurkha troops massacred at least 379 (over 1000, more likely according to other sources) unarmed demonstrators in 1919. Most of those killed were Indian nationalists who were protesting the British government’s forced conscription of Indian soldiers an imposed war tax.

Amritsar was placed under martial law and handed over to British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, who banned all meetings and gatherings. On April 13, the day of the Sikh Baisakhi festival, thousands of people came to Amritsar to attend the traditional fairs. Many people were unaware of the recent ban on public assemblies. Dyer’s troops surrounded the park and without warning opened fire, killing several hundred and wounding more than a thousand, an understatement. Dyer admitted to ordering the attack for its “moral effect” on the people of the region and had his troops continue the murderous barrage until all their artillery was exhausted. British authorities later removed him from his post.

The massacre stirred nationalist feelings across India and that of Mohandas Gandhi. But after the massacre he became convinced that India should accept nothing less than full independence. To achieve this end, Gandhi began organizing his first campaign of mass civil disobedience against Britain’s oppressive rule.

Dyer born and raised in India, figuratively exiled to England, where he died in isolated disgrace.