Khejarli massacre

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Khejarli Massacre
September 1730, 363 Bishnois were killed while trying to peacefully protect a grove of Khejri trees.
A memorial Commemorating 363 Bishnois died for saving Green Trees Near Khejarli, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Date	early-mid September 1730, likely on 11 September
Location	Khejarli, Rajasthan 26.1666654, 73.1591207
Caused by	Cutting down of trees by the Kingdom of Marwar
Resulted in	363 Bishnois killed, tree harvesting halted and outlawed in the village
Parties
Khejarli villagers Supported by Bishnoi practitioners Soldiers and laborers of the Kingdom of Marwar
Lead figures
Amrita Devi Bishnoi, Bishnoi elders Giridhar Bhandari
Number
Several hundred Bishnoi practitioners "Party" of soldiers and laborers
Casualties and losses
363 Bishnois villagers none

The Khejarli massacre occurred in September 1730 in Northern India, when 363 Bishnois were killed while trying to peacefully protect a grove of Khejri trees. The soldiers were sent by the Maharaja of Marwar, Abhai Singh to cut the trees in the village of Khejarli to provide wood for a new palace. The killings were carried out on the orders of his minister Giridhar Bhandari. The effort had a long term impact on environmental advocacy, and the massacre later became known as a precursor to the 20th century Chipko movement. Due to the sacrifice of the protesters, the ruler took back his earlier order of felling trees.^[1]