The Cambodian genocide refers to the mass killings and atrocities that occurred in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979 under the rule of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot. During this period, an estimated 1.7 million people died due to executions, forced labor, and starvation as the regime sought to create an agrarian socialist society. The genocide targeted various groups, including intellectuals, professionals, and ethnic minorities, as the Khmer Rouge aimed to eliminate perceived threats to their ideology. The regime's brutal policies led to widespread suffering and left a lasting impact on Cambodian society, which continues to grapple with the consequences today.