MARDAN: Speakers at a function here on Sunday paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Takkar, who were killed by British forces on May 28, 1930.

The function was organised by Awami National Party at the monument of Shuhada-i-Takkar to remember the people, who were massacred after the killing of a British police of ficer Murphy by a mob of Pakhtuns.

District nazim Himayatullah Mayar was chief guest on the occasion. ANP district councillors, local elders and people of different walks of life attended the function. They lighted candles to remember the sacrifices of martyrs of Takkar.

According to a Pashto booktitled `Da Khpal Wakai Taroon` published in Afghanistan, 70 people were killed and 150 wounded in the violence unleashed by British forces in Takkar village of Mardan.

Addressing the function, Mr Mayar said that they could not forget sacrifices of the martyrs of Takkar, who fought for Pakhtun cause during the British rule. He said that their sacriñces and movement of Khudai Khidmatgars played great role in independence of Pakistan.

Other speakers also highlighted the sacrifices of Shuhadai-Takkar. They said that sacriñces of Pakhtuns forced the British rulers leave subcontinent.

According to local elders, on April 23, 1930, a violent incident took place in Qissa KhwaniBazaar Peshawar, in which nearly 100 people were killed when British security forces opened fire on protesting citizens.

`The British colonialists were angry because the movement of the Khudai Khidmatgars was in full swing at that time. After Peshawar and Utmanzai, Takkar was the stronghold of the movement and the British establishment was arresting leaders of the movement to crush it. On May 26, 1930 a British police officer Murphy arrived in Takkar along with his force to make arrests, accordingto the elders.

Murphy had come to arrest Malik Masim Khan, Salar Shamroz Khan, Malik Khan Badshah, Pir Shahzada and Malik Hameed of Fazalabad.

They were asked to surrender and an exchangeof hot words took place between the police and Malik Masim.

Ultimately, the village elders decided to surrender the next dayof hot words took place between the police and Malik Masim.

Ultimately, the village elders decided to surrender the next dayin Mardan. On May 27, the five men set of f to Mardan in the form of a procession. The British forces did not allow them to reach Mardan in procession and asked them to surrender. It triggered a clash between the two sides.

Murphy on horseback forced his way into the procession.

Suddenly gunshots were heard and Murphy fell down from his horse. The women in the procession started throwing pitchers full of water on him and this led to Murphy`s death.

On May 28, the British soldiers laid siege to Takkar and its villagers witnessed the brutality of the worst kind. There was violence everywhere. Women and children were beaten up. The British even fired at the trees to scare away the villagers, who were rushing to Takkar to assist those under siege.

Takkar was commemorated and folksongs were written to remember the tragedy. `Pa Takkar Jang Di` is still a popular and sorrowful folksong that portrays the village scene on that unfortunate day.