22 killed in Muharram Massacre honoured with monument

MORE than a century since 22 indentured labourers lost their lives as they were fired upon by British Colonial officers in the streets of San Fernando, a monument to honour the courage of the deceased and to acknowledge the brutality of the Muharram Massacre of 1884 has been unveiled.

On October 30, 142 years ago, approximately 120 Indian Indentured labourers attempting to oppose a colonial ban on public parades outside of sugarcane estates were shot as they defiantly carried out their Hosay celebrations, transporting their colourful tadjahs across the southern city to be ritually discarded in the waters of the King's Wharf.

More than one-fifth died as bullets were fired into the unarmed crowd by British troops as local police read the Riot Act. Their deaths would be later commemorated as the 'Muharram Massacre.'