Srinagar, Jan 17 (KNS): Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday called for a complete shutdown on Jan 21 at Gaw Kadal and its adjacent areas, on Jan 25 in Handwara town and on Jan 27 in Kupwara town to protest against the massacres that took places in the respective areas in the year 1990.
In a statement issued to KNS, JRL said that a public rally will also be held at Gaw-Kadal on 21st January.
Terming the massacres at Gaw-Kadal, Handwara and Kupwara in 1990 as a reminder of ‘Indian illegal occupation’ and ‘oppression’, JRL said that “Indian military occupation started its killing machine from Gaw-Kadal when on 21st January 1990; its forces opened their guns on peaceful protesters and callously murdered more than 50 innocents within an hour. This massacre was followed by massacres at Handwara and Kupwara where hundreds of Kashmiris were gunned down by Indian police and forces with impunity.”
JRL said that united India during its struggle for freedom against British witnessed only one Jalianwala Bagh massacre but Kashmiris have witnessed dozens of such massacres carried out by Indian forces from 1990 and this carnage is still going on unabated.
They said that “the sole aim of India is to terrorize people of Kashmir through these brutal massacres and put an end to resistance movement but India failed to do so in past and will fail to do so in future too.”
JRL said that in 1990, people of Jammu Kashmir started a people’s revolt against Indian occupation and to crush this people’s resistance, at the orders of political leadership, Indian army and forces started its killing machine and killed thousands of people in cold blood.
The leadership said the nation of Kashmir is indebted to martyrs who laid down their lives for freedom and resistance leadership pledges to continue this struggle till the achievement of the sacred goal. “Days like 21st, 25th and 27th January 1990 remind us of sacrifices rendered by our loved ones. These are the days for renewal and reiteration of our commitments and today while recalling these great sacrifices we reiterate our pledge to take forward the mission of martyrs till the achievement of the desired goal,” the leadership said.
Calling for a complete protest shutdown on Sunday 21st January 2018 (Gaw-Kadal Massacre day) in Gaw-Kadal, Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Maisuma, Basant Bagh, Burbarshah, Red-cross road and Koker bazaar areas, on Thursday, 25th January 2018 in Handwara town and on Saturday 27th January 2018 in Kupwara town, JRL said that “people of these areas will recollect and protest against the brutality of Indian occupation and pay homage to revered martyrs.”
Moreover to commemorate Gaw Kadal martyrs, a public meeting will also be held at Gaw-Kadal, in which JRL leaders and activists will participate and pay homage to great martyrs. (KNS)