Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis.Within a week after exposure to the bacteria, flu like symptoms such as fever, headaches, vomiting and Swollen and painful lymph nodes.

The plague broke out in Pune like many other places in the British India. In order to deal with this, A plague commiittee was formed with W.C.Rand a British civil officer as its head.

The British administration along with Mr-Rand agreed that the plague was a “dire situation” and warranted “extreme measures” against the indians to check the same.

Some of these “extreme measures include”:

Power to enter house without any reason:Forced entry into private houses of Indians without any requirement of warrant, permissions or valid reason. Stripping Indians naked in public Forced stripping and examination of occupants (including women) by British officers in public naked for all to see Forced admission into segregation camps Power to restrict freedom of movement of Individuals if the British officers suspected them of being infected Power to destroy, burn, confesticate and break any personal property belonging to Indians if British officers have suspicion of the said property or article of being infected

These were just some of the many few measures that were unleasesh by W.C.Rand on Pune. While the locals complaint to Rand about the hardships and misuse of power being done by the British officers under the pretext of Anti-Plague measures, Rand rationalised the incidents as minor temporary inconvenience for the Greater good of the health of Indian people.

The working of the W.C.Rand handed commiittee led to severe criticism from local social activists and leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhle.

Sree Bal Gangadhar Tilak Wrote:

“Her Majesty the Queen, the Secretary of State and his Council, should not have issued the orders for practising tyranny upon the people of India without any special advantage to be gained. …[T]he government should not have entrusted the execution of this order to a suspicious, sullen and tyrannical officer like Rand.

Sree Gopal Krishna Gokhale wrote that British soldiers “let loose on the town” of Pune were ignorant of Indians’ language, customs, and sentiments. Moreover, he claimed – in marked contradiction to Rand’s above-quoted statement – to be in possession of reliable reports regarding the rape of two women, one of whom committed suicide rather than live with shame.

The assasination takes place on 22 June 1897

On 22 June 1987, The three Chapekar brothers infuriated with the heavy handed handling of the Plague set out to execute their plan to assassinate Rand.

While originally having planned to kill Rand on his way to the the queen Victoria Jublee celebrations, they had to changle plan midway after they failed to recognise the carriage carrying Rand to the government house where celebration was talking place.

However determined to not do the same mistake again,the three brothers attacked the carriage after the end of the program while it was leaving the venue. The brothers were armed with swords,pistol and hatchets. The shootout caused the immediate death of Rand’s military escort and caused Rand to succumb from injuries in hospital 13 days later.