Kupwara, Jan 27 (KNS): A complete shutdown was Friday observed to remember 27 civilians who were killed on this day in 1994 allegedly by Army for observing shutdown on January 26 (republic day).
The strike call was given by Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani.
Life in this frontier district came to a grinding halt as all the shops, petrol pumps and business establishments remained closed throughout the day while the roads wore a deserted look.
Witnesses said that people in the district offered congregational Fateh-a-Khawani for the massacre victims at different places including Mazar-e Shuda at Rigipora area of Kupwara.
Recalling that fateful day, a survivor told KNS, “Around 11 am when shopkeepers were opening their shops to start their routine business activities, soldiers posted on (ROP) duty opened fire from all the directions, which resulted in the killing of 27 people, including traders, some policemen and other officials.”
He said that at 12 PM, the firing got stopped.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“After the incident, soldiers asked survivors to assemble in the ground and undergo an identification parade.”
He said, “No one was allowed to lift the bodies and take the injured to the hospital for treatment. A boy died in front of his father, who begged before the soldiers to allow him to take his son to the hospital. But soldiers didn’t pay any heed towards his pleas.”
Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has organized a special prayer function at Jamia Masjid Kupwara to remember the Kupwara martyrs and Bashir Ahmad Qureshi while offering his tributes to martyrs, expressed his sympathy and solidarity with families of martyrs.
Later, local youth and people in a procession and amidst pro-freedom slogans demanded impartial probe into Kupwara massacre.
Police foiled protest and arrested Bashir Ahmad Qureshi. Hurriyat condemned police action and demanded immediate release of Bashir Ahmad Qureshi. (KNS)