2019-12-17 Tue

On the evening of 17th December 1928, Mr. Saunders was murdered just before the Police Office by Bhagat Singh and Rajguru to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai in the hands of the Police.

In November 1927, the British government appointed the Simon Commission to report on India's constitutional progress for introducing constitutional reforms. The Simon commission faced nationwide opposition. One of them was the group of Young Revolutionaries headed by Lala Lajpat Rai.

On 30th October 1928 when the commission was to arrive, a very big procession was organized at Lahore to boycott the Simon Commission. The police were ordered to prevent any demonstration. There was a clash between the revisionists and the police, and many Congress workers, including Lala Lajpat Rai, were beaten by the police. Some time afterward, Lala Lajpat Rai died.

The people believed that Lalaji's death was due to the beating he had received. Mr. Scott, the Senior Superintendent of Police Lahore, was held responsible for the Police beatings and Mr. Saunders, an assistant superintendent of police, was popularly regarded as connected with the beating of Lalaji.

On the evening of 17th December 1928, Mr. Saunders was murdered just before the Police Office by Bhagat Singh and Rajguru. After the attack on Saunders, the revolutionaries managed to escape and evade the police for some time. However, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were charged with the murder of Saunders and after a trial sentenced to death.

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