Chittagong armoury raid

The Chittagong Uprising termed by the British as Chittagong Armoury Raid, was an attempt on 18 April 1930 to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces from the Chittagong armoury of Bengal Province in British India (now in Bangladesh) by armed Indian independence fighters led by Surya Sen, Nirmal Sen, Ambika Chakrobarty, Ananta Singh,Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Bal.

Background : Early activities

The revolutionary history of Chittagong includes significant events such as the Chittagong Armoury Raid, the Battle of Jalalabad Hills, the Dhalghat encounter, and the Pahartali Ward Club attack. Among these, the armoury raid on 18 April 1930, is one of the most notable episodes. Understanding the revolutionary activities and political climate in Chittagong prior to this event is essential to comprehending its significance.

The revolutionary group in Chittagong was led by Surya Sen, popularly known as Masterda, a resident of Raozan Upazila. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Berhampore College, Sen worked as a teacher at Umatara High English School, where he gained the nickname "Masterda." The group comprised notable members including Ananta Singh, Ambika Chakrabarty, Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Bal, Nirmal Sen, Pritilata Waddedar, and Kalpana Datta. In December 1925, during a police raid at No. 4 Shobhabazar Street, Surya Sen was present but managed to evade capture. He remained a fugitive for over a year, maintaining his commitment to the armed revolutionary movement.Template:PhotomontageAnanta Singh, a prominent revolutionary and son of Golap Singh from Chittagong, was of Sikh descent. He was known for his physical strength and skills in wrestling and stick-fighting. On 23 December 1923, Ananta Singh, along with Deben Dey, Rajendra Dasgupta, and Upendra Bhattacharya, led a robbery targeting the Assam-Bengal Railway, successfully looting approximately seventeen thousand rupees. The robbery caused significant disturbance in Chittagong and drew widespread attention.

Police activity intensified throughout the region, with extensive searches conducted to locate the revolutionaries’ secret hideouts. A few days later, Surya Sen and Ambika Chakrabarty were arrested following a clash with police at Nagarkhana. However, they were soon released due to the legal efforts of Barrister Jatindra Mohan Sengupta. After a prolonged search, Ananta Singh was arrested at Maniktala’s 4th Ward Institution. Inspector Prafulla Roy, the officer responsible for his capture, subsequently became a target of the revolutionaries.

Premananda Dutta, son of Harish Dutta from Chittagong, contacted Inspector Prafulla Roy, offering information about the revolutionaries. However, on the night of 25 May 1924, Premananda fatally shot Roy at close range.

Premananda’s trial was held in the Chittagong court, where a jury found him not guilty. The case was subsequently referred to the High Court, where Justices Greaves and Manmatha Mukherjee upheld the verdict and ordered his release.

During this period, several revolutionaries, including Ambika Chakraborty, Ananta Singh, Nirmal Sen, Surya Sen, Ganesh Ghosh, and Loknath Bal, were imprisoned between 1925 and 1926. These arrests led to a temporary suspension of armed revolutionary activities in Chittagong.

Revolutionary struggle & Congress Influence

In September 1928, Surya Sen was released from prison and returned to Chittagong. That same year, at the Calcutta Congress session, Subhas Chandra Bose served as the commander of the volunteer corps. His military-style discipline and methods were admired by revolutionaries, who regarded him as a symbol of youthful vigour. Concurrently, five prominent revolutionary groups, including those led by Jatin Das, Bhagat Singh, and Major Satya Gupta, reportedly agreed to pursue armed struggle against British colonial rule.

In 1929, several revolutionaries attended a provincial conference in Rangpur, which was chaired by Subhas Chandra Bose. During the conference, they reviewed their progress in the struggle against colonial rule. The self-sacrifice of Jatin Das and the large public homage paid to him in Calcutta further galvanized their activities. By this time, the group had gained influence over the local Congress committee, which aided their efforts. Under Bose’s guidance, they established a volunteer corps trained in military tactics. Ganesh Ghosh led the revolutionary group, with Ananta Singh responsible for training members in wrestling and physical exercises. The group practiced using bows, arrows, and knives as part of their preparations. Ranjan Lal Sen, a lawyer, along with his sons—including the young Rajat Sen—also joined the movement. During the elections for the local Congress committee, the group contested against Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta. The election was marked by violent clashes, resulting in the death of a member, Sukhendu Bikash Dutta. Despite the violence, the revolutionaries succeeded in gaining control of the committee, thereby consolidating their influence.

During this period, Subhas Bose and Kiran Shankar Roy were charged with sedition, and a rivalry developed between Bose andJatindra Mohan Sengupta over leadership of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee. The revolutionaries aligned themselves with Bose, strengthening their association with him. Although Bose’s proposal for establishing a parallel government was rejected at the Lahore Congress, the adoption of the independence resolution in 1929 and the declaration for complete independence on 26 January 1930, inspired widespread nationalist enthusiasm across India. The revolutionaries in Chittagong actively drew upon this momentum. News of Bose’s imprisonment further intensified their commitment. Additionally, the trial of Bhagat Singh and reports of police atrocities galvanized public support. Volunteers joined the cause in large numbers, and financial contributions increased, with women donating jewellery and young people organizing fundraising efforts.

This period also witnessed the rise of non-violent resistance, notably the Salt Satyagraha movement. On 12 March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began the Dandi Salt March, which became a significant act of civil disobedience against British salt laws. The subsequent arrests and convictions of Gandhi and his followers, combined with widespread satyagraha, boycotts of foreign goods, and the chanting of slogans such as "Vande Mataram," generated widespread enthusiasm across India and fostered a renewed sense of patriotism. Gandhi himself reportedly referred to Chittagong as the "forefront of the movement" during the period of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The planning of the armoury raid

Under Surya Sen’s leadership, the Indian Republican Army planned the Chittagong Armoury Raid, set for 18 April 1930, coinciding with Good Friday. The group established an intelligence network to monitor British authorities and evade detection [citation needed]. During preparations, an accidental explosion while manufacturing bombs injured Tarakeswar Dastidar, Ardhendu Dastidar, and Ramakrishna Biswas, briefly delaying efforts.

The operation was divided into six objectives, executed by 62 young revolutionaries organized under designated leaders

1. • Upen Bhattacharya and Lalmohan Sen were tasked with disrupting railway lines to sever communication and troop movement.
   • Ambika Chakrabarty was given charge of capturing the telephone exchange, effectively cutting off communication links.
   • Ananta Singh and Ganesh Ghosh were assigned the critical mission of taking over the police armoury, a key source of weaponry.
   • Nirmal Sen and Lokenath Bal were entrusted with the strategic objective of seizing control of the Auxiliary Force armoury.
   • Surya Sen was to lead the bold assault on the European Club, a symbolic center of British colonial presence and power.

These coordinated actions aimed to disrupt colonial control and secure arms for the revolutionary movement.

On the evening of 18 April 1930, the revolutionaries assembled at their assigned positions as per the plan. Under the leadership of Surya Sen, also known as Masterda, final instructions were given to the different groups. The operation aimed to strike against British colonial authority and was partly inspired by the desire to avenge events such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The participants were prepared for armed confrontation, fully aware of the risks involved.

Just before 8:00 p.m. on 18 April, Nirmal Sen and Loknath Bal led their teams to capture the Pahartali armory. Simultaneously, Ambika Chakraborty directed a group to destroy the telegraph and telephone office. The group assigned to sabotage the railway lines, led by Upen Bhattacharya, had already moved out. The responsibility for seizing the police armory was given to Ananta Singh and Ganesh Ghosh.

At approximately 10:00 p.m., the revolutionaries began executing their planned operations. A taxi carrying some members of the group stopped in front of the Pahartali armory; the driver had been rendered unconscious during the journey and was left behind. Loknath Bal, dressed in a military uniform, led the group. Upon arrival, a guard at the armory, mistaking them for friendly forces, saluted Bal. He was shot before realizing the deception. Template:Photomontage

The second target was the Auxiliary Military Armory, located about five miles from Chittagong. This operation was also led by Loknath Bal, with Nirmal Sen serving as his chief assistant. Other participants included Rajat Sen, Monoranjan Sen, Jiban Ghoshal, Phani Nandi, Subodh Chowdhury, and around thirty others. The group, also dressed in military uniforms, reached the armory around 10:00 p.m. When challenged by a guard, Bal, impersonating a British officer, reportedly responded, "We are allies." As the guard reached for his rifle, he was shot. Continued gunfire resulted in the deaths of three additional guards. Sergeant Major Farrell, who was reportedly interrupted during dinner, was killed while attempting to respond to the disturbance. His wife and children were spared after she pleaded with the attackers. Another guard, identified as Wander, was killed while trying to intervene. The revolutionaries successfully took control of the armory. When British officers later retaliated with machine gun fire, the revolutionaries returned fire and managed to suppress the counterattack. After securing the weapons, including pistols, rifles, and a Lewis gun, they set fire to the armory and withdrew.

To disrupt communication, telegraph wires were cut, and the telephone office operator was rendered unconscious using chloroform. The switchboard was destroyed, and the building was set on fire. Railway tracks were dismantled, leading to the derailment of a goods train. The armory was captured by the revolutionaries without significant delay. Simultaneously, heavy gunfire forced the guards at the police armory, located on a hilltop, to retreat. By this time, the destruction of the telegraph and telephone infrastructure, along with the sabotage of the railway lines, had effectively isolated Chittagong from the surrounding regions.

Following these actions, the revolutionaries gathered at the top of the police hill, where they raised the flag of the National Republican Army and reportedly chanted slogans such as "Vande Mataram," marking what they viewed as a symbolic victory.

Following their initial success, the revolutionaries proceeded to set fire to the police armoury. During this process, while pouring petrol over gunpowder, Himanshu Sen accidentally caught fire. Although he was quickly removed from the scene, he sustained severe injuries. Ananta Singh, Ganesh Ghosh, Ananda Gupta, and Jiban Ghoshal took him to his home, where he later succumbed to his burns. As a result of this incident, the group became separated from the main contingent of revolutionaries. The plan to attack the European Club was temporarily abandoned, as the premises were found deserted by the time the revolutionaries arrived. Shortly afterward, a firefight occurred between the revolutionaries and the police at the local Water Works. During the exchange, the police forces withdrew. Following this encounter, the revolutionaries sought temporary refuge in the surrounding hills and bushes on the outskirts of the city. From these positions, they planned to continue resistance through guerrilla tactics as opportunities arose.

Battle of Jalalabad Hill, 22 April 1930

Following the Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18 April 1930, panic gripped the British administration in Chittagong. European residents fled to ships at the Karnaphuli River’s mouth for safety. By 19 April, the revolutionary forces, led by Surya Sen, briefly seized control of the city, raising their flag in a symbolic victory. The group, exhausted and short on supplies, retreated to the surrounding hills.

The young Chittagong rebels were known to hum Rabindranath's line "Jīban mṛtyu pāyer bhritya, chitta bhābanāhīn" ("Life and death are but servants at one’s feet; the mind remains unshaken") and often sang revolutionary poems by Kazi Nazrul Islam, such as "Durgam Giri Kantar Moru."

On 19 April, Ambika Chakraborty secured a pot of khichuri from a nearby village, providing much-needed relief to the fighters. After spending a few days in the hills, the revolutionaries took positions on Jalalabad Hill, near Chittagong. British authorities, informed of their location, mobilized a response. A meeting involving the district magistrate, senior police officials, and military officers, including Captain Taitt and Colonel Dallas Smith, resolved to confront the rebels. The Eastern Rifles, supported by Surma valley rifles , advanced from multiple directions, crossing paddy fields to reach the hill.

On 22 April 1930, British forces, led by Captain Taitt and comprising the Eastern Rifles and local units, approached Jalalabad Hill from multiple directions, advancing through surrounding paddy fields. The revolutionary forces, positioned at the hill’s summit under Surya Sen, prepared for battle upon learning of the approaching troops. Sen delegated command to Loknath Bal, who organized the group into defensive lines, with fighters positioned at the front, center, and rear. Nirmal Sen was responsible for managing ammunition supplies and lubricating the arms.

As British forces approached Jalalabad Hill, Loknath Bal ordered the revolutionaries to open fire. The ensuing clash lasted approximately three hours, with the revolutionaries’ sustained defence forcing the initial British assault, led by Captain Taitt, to retreat. A larger British unit, under Colonel Dallas Smith, then surrounded the hill from three sides, deploying rifles and machine guns. Despite the escalated attack, the revolutionary forces held their ground. Template:Photomontage

During the intense exchange, Harigopal Bal (Tegra), Loknath Bal’s brother, was struck by a British bullet and fatally wounded. His last words were

“Dear brother, I’m going—keep fighting till the end!”

—these were Tegra’s final words. The revolutionaries continued fighting until dusk, when the British forces withdrew. By dusk on 22 April 1930, the British forces retreated from Jalalabad Hill after a three-hour engagement. The battle resulted in the deaths of 12 revolutionaries: Naresh Roy, Tripura Sen, Bidhu Bhattacharya, Harigopal, Matilal Kanungo, Prabhas Bal, Shashanka Dutt, Nirmal Lala, Jiten Dasgupta, Madhusudan Dutt, and Pulin Ghosh. Ambika Chakraborty, Binod Behari Dutt, Ardhendu Dastidar and Binod Bihari Chowdhury sustained serious injuries. After the British retreat from Jalalabad Hill on 22 April 1930, the surviving revolutionaries, led by Surya Sen, honored their fallen comrades. Loknath Bal, the battle’s field commander, paid respects to Nirmal Sen, who had commended his leadership. Sen praised Bal’s command, noting his effective leadership during the engagement and said :

“Your unparalleled bravery in the battlefield of Jalalabad today, has made us all deeply grateful to you. With the honor of a victorious hero, you will remain a symbol of bravery for young Bengal.”

Surya Sen acknowledged Bal’s effective command during the engagement [citation needed]. The revolutionaries conducted a Guard of Honour for the 12 deceased. At approximately 2 a.m., British officers Captain Taitt and Colonel Dallas Smith documented the encounter

“We reached Jalalabad, where the revolutionaries fired first. Both sides exchanged gunfire until it ceased at dusk. We heard rumors of a planned attack on the Imperial Bank that night, so we left and returned in the morning. At dawn, we found ten revolutionaries dead, with Matilal Kanungo near death and Ardhendu severely wounded.”

The surviving revolutionary fighters were exhausted after the Battle of Jalalabad Hill on 22 April 1930, the surviving revolutionaries, led by Surya Sen, were exhausted and some wounded, yet determined to evade capture. Sen instructed the group to retreat under cover of darkness, and they departed that night, carrying rifles and seeking refuge in nearby village hideouts. Template:Photomontage At sunrise on 23 April, British forces surrounded the hill and ascended to the summit amid gunfire, finding it deserted except for the bodies of several fallen revolutionaries. Ardhendu Dastidar, showing signs of life, was taken to a jail hospital, where he later died. A British report, attributed to an official named Johnson, claimed the deceased were placed in a pit, doused with petrol, and burned without notifying relatives or conducting formal rites [citation needed]. The report further alleged that Matilal Kanungo, though severely wounded and possibly alive after receiving a morphine injection, was included in the burning, a claim requiring further verification due to its gravity. The revolutionaries’ resistance at Jalalabad Hill, despite the heavy toll, became a rallying point for Bengal’s independence movement.

The Feni skirmish & Ananta's self surrender

In the Battle of Jalalabad Hills, many revolutionaries were injured or killed, with some succumbing later in hospitals. Amarendra Nandi from Sadarghat took his own life to evade a police crackdown, while Ambika Chakrabarty sustained severe injuries. Leaders like Surya Sen, Nirmal Sen, Ananta Singh, Lokenath Bal, and Ganesh Ghosh escaped capture. After seizing the Chittagong armory, the rebels secured weapons and set it ablaze, but Himangshu Sen was trapped. Template:Photomontage Ananta Singh, Ganesh Ghosh, Ananda Gupta, and Jiban Ghoshal rescued Himangshu Sen and sought safety. Finding the main group gone, they hid in town. On 22 April, after 9:30 p.m., the four boarded a Kolkata-bound train from Bhatia Station, deceiving locals. Stationmaster Ashwini Ghosh alerted police, leading to a confrontation at Feni District Station. A gunfight erupted when Ananta Singh fired, allowing their escape. Separated, Jiban Ghoshal, Ananda Gupta, and Ganesh Ghosh reunited and reached Kolkata, finding refuge with Bhupendra Kumar Datta. Ananta Singh, disguised as a farmer, traveled through villages to Comilla, aided by local leaders, before joining Datta in Kolkata. Safe houses in Ultadanga, Kidderpore, and Chandannagar, supported by Jugantar’s Basanta Kumar Bandhopadhyay, sheltered the revolutionaries.

Even after this, many young revolutionaries were caught, and some began to confess due to the extreme tortures. Upon hearing this, Ananta Singh voluntarily surrendered to the police. On 25 June 1930, he wrote the following letter to Police I.G. Mr. Lowman:

Dear Lowman,

I will meet you on June 28. I know you will not miss the opportunity to arrest me immediately at that place. I am preparing myself accordingly. Never think that I am surrendering. Do you think I regret my actions? No, never. I am surrendering purely for personal and secret reasons. Yours truly,

Ananta Singh

On 28 June 1930, Ananta Singh surrendered to British authorities at the intelligence office at 13 Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata. His decision was reportedly motivated by a desire to support fellow young revolutionaries facing torture in prison and to prevent them from retracting their statements. Singh’s self-surrender marked a significant moment in the Chittagong Armoury Raid’s aftermath, reflecting the ongoing pressures on the revolutionary movement.

The Kalarpole encounter, 6 May 1930

On 5 May 1930, revolutionaries led by Rajat Sen, Deba Gupta, Swadesh Roy, Monoranjan Sen, Subodh Chaudhury, and Phanindra Nandi left a village hideout to attack the European Club near Valentine Ghat, a symbol of colonial rule. Heavy police presence forced them to retreat through Firingi Bazar. At Rajat Sen’s home, his mother, Binodini Devi, offered food, but his brother warned of approaching police. The group fled to the Karnaphuli River, escaping by sampan under gunfire from a police motor launch. Landing ashore, they faced villagers misled by police claims of "dacoits," sparking chaos. Debaprasad Gupta was severely wounded by a machete, nearly losing his arm. Despite pleading their patriotic cause, the revolutionaries fired in self-defense to escape. In the dark, Phanindra Nandi, separated, found refuge with a peasant couple but was betrayed and captured. Subodh Chaudhury was arrested near Kalarpole Bridge. The others—Rajat, Debaprasad, Swadesh, and Monoranjan—reached Julda village at dawn, aided briefly by a kind woman. Villagers soon alerted police and military, led by DIG Farmer. When ordered to surrender, in response, Monoranjan’s defiant voice rang out:

“Monoranjan does not know to surrender. I want to be the Jatin Mukherjee of the Balasore!”

In the final firefight, Rajat, Swadesh and Monoranjan committed suicide. Debaprasad, despite mortal wounds, defiantly taunted the police, targeting officer Lowman, before succumbing, honoring their vow to avenge their Jalalabad comrades.

The Chandannagar police raid

In the mid-1930s, Suhasini Ganguly (Putudi) and Sashadhar Acharya, a Jugantar party member and East Indian Railway employee, lived undercover as ordinary residents in a house at Gondolpara, Chandannagar, under the leadership of revolutionary Bhupendra Kumar Datta. Bhupendra sent Ganesh Ghosh, Ananta Singh, Anand Gupta, and Jiban Ghoshal to take shelter there, with young revolutionary Hemanta Tarafdar facilitating communication. Through Bhupendra’s efforts, contact was established between the Chandannagar hideout and Surya Sen, who was in hiding in Chittagong. Days later, Lokenath Bal, sought refuge in Kolkata. With Bhupendra arrested, Loknath met revolutionaries at a Chandannagar safe house guided by Kiranchandra Mukherjee, a key Jugantar leader. On 23 August, revolutionaries attacked Kolkata Police Commissioner Charles Tegart at Dalhousie Square and on 29 August Benoy Basu killed Inspector General Loman and injured police chief Hudson. Following these events, many Bengal revolutionaries faced arrest and torture. Under pressure, a key prisoner revealed the Chandannagar hideout’s location, leading to a police raid on 31 August.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on 31 August, a specially selected police unit led by Commissioner Charles Tegart surrounded the house. This led to a violent confrontation between the police and the revolutionaries. Ananda Gupta, one of the revolutionaries, later recounted the event:

" On the early morning of September 1, 1930—nearly four and a half months after the Chittagong uprising—a well-armed police force led by Commissioner Tegart surrounded our hideout in Gondolpara, Chandannagar, then under French control. Escape was impossible as the police formed an unbreakable cordon around the house. For several nights prior, we had taken turns keeping watch from the rooftop, sensing the increasing danger. That night, from our vantage point, we saw a group of helmeted men rapidly approaching. We quickly prepared to make a run for it through the back door.

Suddenly, the police focused bright lights on us, and bullets began raining down on the figures caught in the beams. Despite firing back, we faced an overwhelming disadvantage: the enemy was protected behind sturdy stone walls, their torches glaring into our eyes, making it nearly impossible to aim accurately. Our ammunition was scarce, and the fight was heavily one-sided.

There were only four of us—Ganeshda, Lokenathda, Jiban Ghoshal, and myself—against a large police contingent. Within moments, Jiban was struck multiple times and collapsed lifelessly into a nearby pond. Bullets came from every direction, and though all of us took hits, I was fortunate to suffer only a leg wound while the others remained unharmed.

What began as freedom and evasion abruptly ended in capture. We were six prisoners in total, including Shashadhar Acharya and Suhasini Ganguly, who was like a sister to all of us.

For nearly six hours, we endured relentless and brutal torture—beatings from batons, boots, and rifle butts inflicted on our chained bodies. Even Suhasini di was not spared, bearing the marks of slaps, punches, and kicks.

After this ordeal, we were roughly dragged into police vans with our hands handcuffed and ropes tied around our waists. We were taken to the Prosecutor’s Court in Chandannagar and then, under heavy guard, transferred to Hooghly Jail.

The next morning, Ganeshda, Lokenathda, and I were brought to court at the famous Lalbazar Police Station in Kolkata and locked separately in different cells.

At dawn the following day, a group of sergeants and a senior officer arrived and took us again, cuffed and bound, loading us into police vans. We reached Sealdah Station, where we were placed in a first-class train compartment, accompanied by police officers and military personnel.

The train departed for Goalanda, and once more, we traveled as prisoners, bound for Chittagong."

The revolutionaries were then brought to Chittagong and integrated with Ananta Singh’s group. A fresh trial commenced on 3 September 1930. Those who had previously confessed retracted their statements. Nearly two years later, on 1 March 1932, the verdict was announced. Twelve revolutionaries—Ananta Singh, Lokenath Bal, Ganesh Ghosh, Lalmohan Sen, Subodh Chowdhury, Phanindra Nandy, Ananda Gupta, Fakir Sen, Sahayram Das, Ranadhir Dasgupta, Subodh Roy, and Sukhendu Dastidar—were sentenced to transportation for life. Anathbandhu Das and Nandalal Singh, being minors, were released under Section 562 of the legal code.

Template:Photomontage During the trial, several startling incidents occurred, two of which were particularly significant: the assassination of Tarini Mukherjee and the killing of Inspector Khan bahadur Asanullah. The first incident took place in Chittagong city on 18 December 1930. These events underscored the volatile atmosphere surrounding the revolutionary movement and the British authorities’ efforts to suppress it. The harsh sentences reflected the colonial government’s resolve to quash the uprising, yet the revolutionaries’ defiance continued to inspire the broader struggle for India’s independence.

File:The Chittagong armoury raid accused revolutionaries who were sentenced to transportation in Andamans.jpg

The Chittagong armoury raid accused revolutionaries who were sentenced to transportation in Andaman Cellular Jail.

Killing of Tarini Mukherjee and Asanullah

As previously noted, Ramakrishna Biswas, a member of Surya Sen’s revolutionary group, was a fugitive. About two months before the Chittagong Armoury Raid, he hid at Savitri Devi’s house. Ramkrishna and Kalipada Chakrabarty were tasked with assassinating Inspector General of Police Craig, who had assumed the role after Lowman’s death.

On the night of 1 December 1930, Craig was scheduled to board a steamer in Chandpur en route from Chittagong to Kolkata. Inspector Tarini Mukherjee was assigned as his guard and was to salute him upon boarding. Tarini boarded a train at Laksam around 2 a.m., and, finding no space in second class, took a first-class compartment. Tall and well-built, he disembarked at Chandpur around 4 a.m. toward the third-class section. Mistaking him for Craig, Ramkrishna and Kalipada shot and killed him. Both, accused in the armoury raid case, had boarded the train at Laksam. After the shooting, they fled, evading immediate capture.

Exhausted, they rested at a shop near Meher Kalibari Station, 20 miles away. One wore a green shawl, the other a red one; one was fair, the other darker. At that moment, Tripura’s S.P., B.C. Dasgupta, approached with his team, suspecting their presence. Revolvers recovered from two revolutionaries were traced to the Chittagong Armoury, with bombs matching those used in the Dalhousie Square attack.

Their trial, held at the Alipore Tribunal under Mr. Garlick, N.K. Bandyopadhyay, and Adilzuman Khan, began 3 January 1931. Ramkrishna faced a death sentence, while young Kalipada received life transportation. Template:Photomontage

On 30 August 1931, Haripada Bhattacharya, a 16-year-old revolutionary, assassinated Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah, an Inspector of Police who had led the investigation into the Chittagong Armoury Raid. After an unsuccessful attempt on 29 August, Haripada carried out the assassination the following day as Inspector Ahsanullah was leaving a football match. He fired four shots using a revolver that had been stolen during the raid. Following a brief chase, Bhattacharya was apprehended by the police. Tried by Sukumar Sen, I.C.S., with a special jury, he was sentenced to death, but the High Court commuted it to life transportation. Colonial repression in Chittagong intensified thereafter which even led to communal riots.

In the Chittagong Dynamite Conspiracy Case on 29 September 1931, Ardhendu Dutta, Nibaran Ghosh, and Rabindra Sen received three-year terms, while Sushil Sen and Prafulla Mukherjee got two years; Apurba Sen was acquitted. The following report as per the Statesman 29 September 1931 says:

"An attempt to blow up the Law Courts and prison cells was frustrated by the police today. Four containers believed to be full of dynamite were discovered near the Court buildings. They were connected by electric wires, which ran 15 in under the ground for about 50 ft. to a concealed switch. Three more containers of explosives were found in a house at Chittagong. The police were put on the track of the finds by Bengali youths, who was caught with a container of dynamite in his hands."

— Template:Comma separated entries

The second Chittagong Armoury Raid trial began on 1 January 1933, involving Ambika Chakrabarty, Hemendu Bikash Dastidar, and Sarojkanti Guha. On 26 August 1932, Hemendra Datta, was arrested while leaving Friends Union Mess at 130 Maniktala Street, Kolkata. His brother was Ardhendu Dastidar who died in the Jalalabad fight, and their cousin Sukhendu received a life sentence in the first trial. Saroj Guha, posing as, a private tutor, was apprehended in Dhabalpur village, Noakhali District. In October 1933, Ambika Chakraborty was arrested in Kachuyai village, Patiya. On 1 February 1933, Ambika Chakrabarty faced a death sentence, later commuted to life transportation by the High Court, while Saroj Guha, due to his youth, received life transportation. Meanwhile Masterda, Nirmal Sen and others hiding at Sabitri devi’s house in Dhalghat village, Chittagong, where he, Nirmal, and other fugitives had sought refuge, marking a significant crackdown on the revolutionary network.

The Dhalghat encounter

The house was a two-story building where Surya Sen and Nirmal Sen resided on the upper floor. From 11 June 1932, Pritilata Waddedar also began living there. Before Tarini Mukherjee's murder, Ramakrishna Biswas and Kalipada Chakrabarty had stayed in the same house. Pritilata, who graduated with a B.A. from Bethune College in 1932, joined Surya Sen’s revolutionary group. Her father, Jagabandhu Waddedar, was the head clerk in a magistrate’s office. Known for her academic excellence, Pritilata earned the nickname "Rani." She was recruited into the revolutionary fold by Manoranjan Ray, whom she affectionately called "Keblada." During this period, Pritilata served as the headmistress of Nandankanan,Chittagong Girls’ School in Chittagong, balancing her revolutionary activities with her professional responsibilities. Her involvement marked a significant contribution to the revolutionary movement, reflecting her commitment to India’s fight for independence.

On 12 June 1930, Surya Sen, Nirmal Sen, Apurba Sen, and Pritilata Waddedar, were hiding at Savitri Devi’s house in Dhalghat village, Chittagong. Apurba Sen was ill with a fever. That evening, British forces approached the house, prompting Surya Sen to alert the group. Nirmal Sen, Apurba Sen, and Pritilata, armed with revolvers, took positions on the roof to confront the soldiers. Template:Photomontage As gunfire erupted, Nirmal Sen reportedly shot and killed Captain Cameron of Gurkha rifles regiment while he was scaling up the stairs to reach Surya Sen’s room on the first floor. The British forces fired on the house, and the revolutionaries returned intermittent fire. Nirmal Sen, recognizing the importance of Surya Sen’s leadership, urged him to escape with Apurba and Pritilata through the rear of the house while he provided cover. Nirmal Sen was fatally wounded during the exchange. Apurba Sen was also struck by a bullet and died in the courtyard.

Surya Sen and Pritilata escaped through surrounding bushes, reaching the home of revolutionary Mani Dutta. With Mani Dutta’s assistance, they navigated four miles of fields and ponds at night, arriving at a safehouse in Jeshtopura village, belonging to Kaviraj Ashwini, known as ‘Kutir’. The confrontation underscored the risks faced by the revolutionary movement in Chittagong.

By early morning, the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police, and Major Gordon, the local military commander, had arrived at the scene. Shortly after their arrival, Savitri Devi and Snehalata Devi surrendered to the authorities. Both were charged with sheltering fugitive revolutionaries. Their trial took place in the court of Magistrate Nrisingh Mukherjee, with the list of accused also including Ramkrishna Chakraborty, Mahendralal Biswas, Dinesh Dasgupta, and Ajit Biswas.

During a thorough search of the premises, police recovered several documents and two handwritten manuscripts, which had been secretly smuggled out of prison. One of these was titled History of the Revolutionary Movement in India, written under the pseudonym "Amar Dham er jatri" (Pilgrim of the Immortal Abode). The author was later revealed to be Ganesh Ghosh, a prominent revolutionary leader. This discovery not only underscored the strategic efforts of the revolutionaries but also highlighted their intellectual engagement and commitment to documenting the freedom struggle.

Pahartali European club attack

The Chittagong revolutionary group managed to raise around ₹12,000, secured nearly 10,000 cartridges, and rallied more than a hundred revolutionaries for their mission. Following this, the revolutionary leader Surya Sen assigned Pritilata Waddedar the responsibility to carry on the unfinished task. Pritilata soon became a prominent figure in the movement and was joined by Kalpana Datta, who had been introduced to the cause by Kaviraj Ashwini Dey. Pritilata held Surya Sen in high regard, often referring to him respectfully as "Masterda" in her writings.

Kalpana Datta came from a distinguished background, being the granddaughter of Rai Bahadur Durgadas Dutta. After completing her schooling in Chittagong, she enrolled at Bethune College in Kolkata, successfully passing her I.Sc. in 1929 and sitting for her B.Sc. exams in 1931. She returned to Chittagong shortly after and became deeply involved in revolutionary activities, contributing both money and jewelry to the cause.

Her dedication was clear in one memorable instance when, amid a severe storm, she secretly met with Surya Sen at a concealed location. It was during this meeting that she fired a revolver for the first time, marking her active participation in armed struggle. As Kalpana’s involvement deepened, she soon came under police watch.

Fortunately, Kalpana's guardians secured her release on bail after her arrest. During this period, Pritilata frequently met Ramakrishna Biswas at Alipore Central Jail, who was sentenced to death. Despite their efforts, police surveillance remained relentless.Template:Fact

On 18 September 1932, Kalpana was spotted near the Pahartali Railway Institute, disguised in dhoti, shirt, and khaddar shawl, with a cloth tied around her head to hide her identity. She was accompanied by two young men and was gathering intelligence on the European Club in Pahartali, a notorious place for excluding Indians.Template:Fact

Her suspicious behavior caught the attention of a local doctor, Dr. Kundu, who alerted the police. Sub-Inspector Sanjib Nag apprehended Kalpana inside a dispensary at the Pahartali hospital, along with Nirmal and Dinabandhu Majumdar.Template:Fact

Kalpana was arrested but released on bail after eight days. Facing ongoing legal challenges, she went into hiding again on 26 December. At this time, she was legally pursued under Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code.

Just six days after Kalpana’s arrest, on 24 September 1932, Surya Sen launched a daring attack on the Pahartali European Club. The club, infamous for its racist sign barring "Dogs and Indians," became the target of a fierce retaliation. Pritilata Waddedar led the assault, storming the club with explosives and setting fires that caused extensive damage. Inside the clubroom, people were engaged in billiards and card games when suddenly a bomb exploded, causing widespread panic. European men and women scattered in all directions, desperate to escape the danger.

Mrs. Sullivan sustained severe injuries and succumbed to them shortly afterward. Several others, including Mr. Macdonald and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Lower, and Mr. Middleton with his wife Rosa, were seriously wounded in the blast. Sergeant Blackburn immediately rushed to alert Police Superintendent Hicks. However, by the time Hicks arrived, the attackers had already vanished from the scene.

During the retreat, Pritilata was shot. To avoid capture and uphold the honor of her mission, she took a Potassium cyanide capsule she carried, choosing death over arrest. Her sacrifice remains a powerful symbol of courage and dedication to India’s freedom struggle. Approximately a hundred yards from the clubroom, the police discovered her body. At first, it was unrecognizable, but it was later identified as Pritilata Waddedar. She had been disguised in men’s attire, wearing a dhoti, a coarse cotton shawl, and a towel wrapped around her head. Template:Photomontage

Surya Sen's arrest and trial

About five months after Pritilata’s martyrdom, on 16 February 1933, the revolutionary movement in Chittagong faced a major setback when Masterda Surya Sen was captured. The arrest occurred at the house of landlady Khirodpabha Biswas in the village of Gairala, roughly five miles from Patia, where other revolutionaries, including Kalpana Dutta, were also taking refuge.

Acting on a tip-off, a unit from the 2/9th Gurkha Rifles, supported by police forces, surrounded the shelter. Under the glare of torchlight, three individuals were seen firing revolvers from the northern side of the house. The troops quickly returned fire and completed the encirclement. After a brief lull, two revolutionaries attempted to break through, but the soldiers restrained their fire to prevent friendly casualties. Around 11 a.m., Surya Sen tried to escape by climbing over the northern fence but was captured by Havildar Manbahadur Khetri, who was lying in wait. Meanwhile, Kalpana Dutta and others managed to flee. Brajen Sen, a fellow revolutionary, was also arrested on the spot. A reward of ten thousand rupees was announced for Surya Sen’s capture.

Despite imprisonment, efforts to free Surya Sen persisted. Surya Sen was transported by train to Sholashar, a suburban station, and then by motorcar to the Chittagong jail. Again, he maintained secret contact with his comrades. He successfully smuggled out instructions and manuscripts, which were later recovered during a search at Dhalghat, confirming the involvement of both Surya Sen and Pritilata Waddedar in the raid.

A daring plan to dynamite part of the jail to rescue Surya Sen was uncovered just before its execution, thwarting the revolutionaries’ attempt.

Following this, Kalpana Datta and Tarakeswar Dastidar were arrested while hiding in the village of Gaira. On 19 May 1933, when army and police forces arrived to capture them, a fierce gunfight broke out. Purna Talukdar and Manoranjan Das were killed in the clash, while Prasanna Talukdar sustained serious injuries. Kalpana and Tarakeswar were taken into custody during the confrontation. Tarakeswar, a prominent revolutionary who rose to leadership after Surya Sen, was then a 23-year-old student in his fourth year at Chittagong College.

Near their hideout in Gaira, authorities recovered a large cache of weapons, explosives, and bombs. The subsequent trial of Surya Sen, Tarakeswar Dastidar, and Kalpana Dutta marked the third and final phase of the Chittagong Armoury Raid movement. Proceedings began on 26 June 1933, at the criminal court situated on a hill. The government was represented by Public Prosecutor Rai Bahadur Nagendranath Bandyopadhyay, while the defence team consisted of Shirish Roy Chowdhury, Kaushik Ghosh, Rajani Biswas, and Binodlal Sen. Over 125 witnesses gave detailed testimony about the events. Among the evidence presented, the court charged Tarakeswar Dastidar for the assassination of DIB Inspector Shasanka Bhattacharya on 16 March 1931.

Surya Sen and Tarakeswar Dastidar were sentenced to death, on 14 August 1933. Template:Photomontage

Surya Sen's death and revenge

In the midnight of 12 January 1934, Surya Sen and Tarakeswar Dastidar were executed by hanging at Chittagong District jail.

"When Masterda was called at midnight to face his execution, he was deeply absorbed in meditation and had to be pulled back to the harsh reality awaiting him. Rising to his feet, he let out a loud, passionate cry of “Bande Mataram!” that resonated throughout the prison, reaching the ears of every revolutionary imprisoned for their role in the raid. The jail authorities were taken aback by the prisoners’ fierce resolve. Each time Masterda repeated the slogan, warders responded with brutal beatings until he lost consciousness. Throughout the jail, the echoes of defiance could be heard from the prisoners, who remained as resolute and unyielding as caged lions. The revered leader of the Chittagong revolutionary movement—whose name had struck fear into British forces across India and unsettled officials all the way in Calcutta—was reduced to a battered, broken man. Despite the brutality he endured, Masterda was supported to the gallows, where the noose was placed around his neck. Tarakeswar Dastidar, his lifelong comrade, was hanged alongside him that same night. For the British authorities, it was a moment of quiet relief. Yet even in death, these martyrs’ presence remained a threat. They feared that cremating their bodies might spark a resurgence of rebellion, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. To prevent such an inspiration, before dawn their bodies were taken aboard the battle cruiser HMS Effingham of the East India fleet. Weighted down heavily, their remains were cast into the depths of the sea, left to be claimed by the ocean’s creatures."

Kalicharan Ghosh,Roll of Honour

The Chittagong revolutionary movement faced a major setback when Masterda Surya Sen was arrested on 16 February 1933 in Gairala village, following a tip-off from an insider. Motivated by reward money, jealousy, or both, Netra Sen informed the British authorities about Surya Sen’s whereabouts. However, before Netra Sen could claim the ₹10,000 reward, he was beheaded by the revolutionary Kiranmoy Sen.

On 7 January 1934, Krishna Choudhury, a young revolutionary of Surya Sen's group, led an attack on a cricket ground in Chittagong to protest the death sentence of Surya Sen, leader of the Chittagong Armoury Raid. During the encounter with British authorities, Choudhury was seriously injured and arrested. He was executed by hanging on 5 June 1934, in Midnapore Central Jail, alongside Haren Chakraborty. The protest highlighted ongoing revolutionary resistance in Bengal following Surya Sen’s trial and execution.

The legacy

A Veteran revolutionary Kali Charan Ghosh, in his book 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳: 𝘈𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺𝘳𝘴, paid tribute to Masterda Surya Sen and the Chittagong uprising with these powerful words:

"The political history of Chittagong from the time of resurgence of militant nationalism is a romantic one. The name of Surya Sen redounds to the glory of India and would become a by-word in every Indian home for everything that goes to the making up of an uncompromising, dauntless revolutionary fighter out for the emancipation of his country from foreign rule at the cost of bitterest suffering that leaves incredible landmarks on the difficult path leading to the goal."

— Template:Comma separated entries

To honour this legacy and ensure the memory of the Chittagong uprising lives on for future generations, Ganesh Ghosh—alongside fellow patriots and dedicated researchers—established Biplab Tirtha Chattagram Smriti Sanstha and Surya Sen Bhawan at Prince Anwar Shah Road in Jodhpur Park, Kolkata. These memorials stand as lasting tributes to the courage, sacrifice, and spirit of those who fought for India’s freedom.

Film adaptations

• A Bengali movie Chattogram Astragar Lunthan was made in 1949 on the Chittagong armoury raid in 1949. It was directed by Nirmal Chowdhury.
• A Hindi movie, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey was made on the Chittagong armoury raid in 2010. It was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar starring Abhishek Bachchan and supported by Deepika Padukone. It was based on the book Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34 by Manini Chatterjee.
• Another film, Chittagong was made in 2010 and released in October 2012. It was directed by Dr. Bedabrata Pain, a former scientist in NASA who resigned from NASA to make this film. Manoj Bajpai was the lead actor and played the role of Surya Sen.

Further reading

• Chatterjee, Manini (2000). Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34, New Delhi: Penguin, Template:ISBN.
• Bhattacharya, Manoshi (2012). Chittagong: Summer of 1930, New Delhi: HarperCollins, Template:ISBN.
• Roy, Subodh (2015). Chittagong Armoury Raid: A Memoir, New Delhi: LeftWord Books, Template:ISBN.
• Mukherjee, Piyul and Nivedita Patnaik (2016). The Last of the Rebels, Ananda and his Masterda. A teenager's Eyewitness Account of the Chittagong Uprising, Kolkata, Bushfire Publishers and Surya Sen Bhavan, Template:ISBN