The killing of 379 Indians (and wounding of 1,200) in Amritsar, at the site of a Sikh religious shrine in the Punjab in 1919. British troops under Gen Edward Dyer opened fire without warning on a crowd of some 10,000, assembled to protest against the arrest of two Indian National Congress leaders (see Congress Party).
White symbolizes justice and the promise of the future. Blue stands for prosperity. Red represents unity and purpose and the blood shed during the struggle for freedom. Effective date: 4 December 1975.