Gopalpur massacre

At midnight of 25 March 1971, the Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight, an operation against Bengali nationalism of the then East Pakistan.^[2] This attack triggered a war and commenced atrocities that continued for nine months until the end of the war.

Elements of Pakistan army established control over Dhaka city on the night of 25 March. But they faced stubborn resistance from locally organized Bengali armed forces in other parts of the country.^[3] In Pabna, The 25 Punjab regiment of the Pakistan army suffered heavy casualties as they tried to wrest control of the city from the locals. They called for reinforcements from the battalion headquarters in Rajshahi. Major Raja Aslam arrived in Pabna with the reinforcement but was forced to retreat toward Rajshahi but their movement was hampered by occasional clashes with local forces. The locals also put up barricades and destroyed a bridge at Dhanaidah in Natore to stall the movement. A railway wagon barricade was put up at Gopalpur rail gate by the local stationmaster.

On 30 March, as the army halted near the Waliar Moyna village, it was attacked by a group of Bengali fighters aided by the local Santals. In the ensuing battle (remembered as Moynar Juddho, the battle of Moyna by the locals) 40 of the Bengali fighters died. The casualty rate on the Pakistani side was lower, but their morale dropped significantly. In the night, the Pakistanis attempted to flee the area in small groups. The following day, several of them were captured by the locals, including the commanding officer Major Aslam.^[4] The soldiers were taken to the residence of Lt. Anwarul Azim, the leader of the local Bengali force and the general manager of North Bengal Sugar Mill. After a summary trial at Lalpur SS Pilot High School ground, the Pakistan army men were shot dead.^[1]