Today it is one of the biggest mass suicides in the world, in which more than 900 people committed suicide on the instigation of a cult leader. It is known in history as Jonestown Mass Suicide. The person who was behind this mass suicide, people knew him as Jim Jones. This incident happened on 18 November 1978. Even today the people of those families are horrified by remembering it.
Who Was Jim Jones: Born on 13 May 1931 in Crete, Indiana, Jim Jones’s ideology was of socialism. Jim, instead of believing in God, gave himself the status of the Messiah. Initially he also lived in California but had to flee due to his suspicious activities. Then became the Cult Leader and in 1956 created the People’s Temple Agricultural Project. Many people became his followers by coming to Jim’s talk.
Jonestown settled in Guyana: Jim Jones fled to the jungles of Guyana due to suspicious activities and allegations in California. Here he settled Jonestown, which had no contact with other peoples of the world. Some people and their families were so impressed with Jim that he moved to this town. Gradually thousands of people gathered here, then Jim Jones used them as he wanted. After many years, the people who had fled from Jonestown later made a statement of the horrors there. In which people were made to work throughout the day. There was a tight vigil so that no one could escape from this town.
When news of the torture reached America: The two couples somehow managed to escape and inform the US government of the ongoing harassment in Jonestown. In such a situation, on November 17, 1978, the US government sent an MP, Leo Ryan, to visit Jonestown with a delegation. It was reported that Jim used to shield children in Jonestown and make their parents work by taking them hostage. When Ryan got there, Jim’s wife walked the whole town herself. In the meantime, someone gave a letter to the delegation urging them to remove them. As soon as the news of which is received, Jim Jones attacks them all, but the MPs manage to escape.
Murder of American MP and then Jim’s drama: As soon as Jim Jones gets the news of this, he immediately sends his soldiers. American lawmakers are killed as soon as they reach the helicopter. In addition, five more people are killed. Jim knew that America would not remain silent after the murder of the MP. In such a situation, Jim Jones gathers everyone in a field and fears that America can attack them. He will slaughter your children like butchers. Then he instigated everyone to drink the poison, which was mixed with cyanide-like poison.
Then more than 900 people committed suicide at once: After this Jonestown mass suicide, a 45-minute audio recording surfaced, in which Jones told people to “die with respect while dying, do not cry and mourn, but quietly on the ground.” Lie down and close your eyes. After this 909 people committed suicide/murder in Jonestown, including 304 children. Among those who did not drink poison, injections of poison were also injected into the bodies of many people. A total of 913 people are believed to have died in this incident.