Srinagar, Jan 25 (KNS): A complete shutdown was on Friday observed in Handwara town of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on the call given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against the killing of 22 civilians allegedly by Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel on 25 January 1990.
JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for a complete shutdown in Handwara today against the Handwara massacre.
All the shops and business establishments remained closed in Handwara town and other areas of district Kupwara while traffic was off the roads.
President Traders Federation Handwara, Aijaz Ahmad Sofi visited the martyrs’ graveyard in Handwara and paid tributes to the slain.
On the occasion, special prayers led by Aiajaz Sofi were held for the martyrs.
Meanwhile, Manzoor Kirmani while recalling the day said that on this day in 1990, 25 civilians were killed after people carried out a rally to send a message that Kashmir is a dispute between India and Pakistan and should be resolved through UN resolutions.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
However, he said in response to the peaceful rally, people were killed in the area.
He added that soon after this incident, a similar kind of incident took place in Kupwara which left 30 shops, 38 residential houses and 63 cowsheds damaged.
“We want to ask world bodies and saner voices in India to conduct a probe into these incidents so that the involved persons whosoever will be punished,” Kirmani said.
Meanwhile, Javid Zargar, KNS senior correspondent who spoke in a function organized to pay homage to Handwara martyrs stressed for unity and said “innocent people in the Valley are being killed. We should think over it and must forge an unity to out an immediate end to such killings.”
“People of Kashmir are suffering loses and 1990’s painful incident is glaring example of loses Kashmir have faced so far. This is the high time to forge an unity,” he added. (KNS)