Shortly before the arrival of Gen. Dyer on the scene with ninety soldiers and two armored cars, Hans Raj had taken charge of the meeting, the audience numbering about 20,000.
What happened afterward is given by the Indian investigators in Gen. Dyer's own words recorded during his testimony at the subsequent inquiry: "When you got to the bag, what did you do?" Gen. Dyer was asked.
Opened Fire in 30 Seconds.
"I opened fire. Immediately I had thought about the matter and don't imagine it took me more than thirty seconds to make up my mind as to what my duty was," he replied.
"In firing, was it your object to disperse?"
"No, sir.
They dispersed."
"Did you continue firing after they had dispersed?"
"Yes."
"After the crowd indicated that it was going to disperse, why did you not stop?"
"I thought it was my duty to go until they had dispersed. If I fired a little, I should be wrong in firing at me."
Continuing their report, the investigators added: "He, Gen. Dyer, said he continued firing for about ten minutes, until he had expended 1,650 rounds of ammunition. He said he had made no provision for aiding or removing the wounded. That was a medical question, he declared.
"One eye witness said: I saw hundreds of persons killed on the spot." 