Nankana massacre

Nankana massacre
Part of Akali movement
Photograph of the remains of charred Sikh victims in the aftermath of the Nankana massacre ('Saka Nankana'), February 1921
LocationNankana Sahib, Punjab, British India
(now in Pakistan)
Coordinates31°27′0″N 73°42′24″E / 31.45000°N 73.70667°E / 31.45000; 73.70667
Date20 February 1921
TargetSikhs
Attack type
Mass shooting, religious violence
Deaths140-260 Sikhs
VictimSikhs

The Nankana massacre (also known as Saka Nankana Sahib) occurred on the premises of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib on 20 February 1921, at that time a part of the Punjab Province of British India, but today in modern-day Pakistan. Between 140 and 260 Sikhs were killed by the Udasi Custodian Narayan Das and his mercenaries, in retaliation for a confrontation between him and members of the reformist Akali movement, who accused him of both corruption and sexual impropriety. The event constitutes an important part of Sikh history. In political significance, it comes next only to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saga constitutes the core of the Gurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in the early twentieth century.