Kaliyan da Khuh: the Ajnala well : The story of 282 Sepoys

On the night of July 30, 1857, a band of 500 sepoy patriots in Punjab, were camping on the banks of the Ravi, six miles from Ajnala.

The British spotted and surrounded them. Cooper ordered the killing of 150 soldiers. While receding, several patriots were overpowered by the unsparing currents of the Ravi.

The remaining, about 282, were sent to Ajnala jail. Several were brought out in groups of 10 and shot down on the streets. Of those in jail, 45 died of suffocation and thirst.

The bodies of the 100+ sepoys, instead of being cremated, were bundled up and thrown into a nearby well which was covered with earth, by Cooper’s orders.

This well is called Kaliyan da Khuh and hopefully, after we win the war, we will erect a memorial for these brave sepoys.