SOPORE: A complete shutdown is being observed in north Kashmir’s Sopore town on Saturday  to commemorate the January 6, 1993 massacre in which at least 55 civilians were  killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) indiscriminate firing.

Pertinently, Joint resistance leaders had called for the shutdown today to mark the 25th anniversary of the deadliest massacre in the town.

All shops and business establishments remained closed while as very thin traffic was plying on the roads. Only Indian police and paramilitary forces were seen patrolling and deployed on the roads of the town to prevent any protests.

At least 55 Unarmed Kashmiri civilian protesters were killed allegedly by the Indian Border Security Force(BSF), in the town of Sopore in Kashmir on 6 January 1993.

The incident had taken place after militants attacked BSF men of 94 battalion at Baba Yousuf Gali near Women’s Degree College Main Chowk Sopore and snatched a weapon from a BSF trooper there  following which forces went berserk and fired indiscriminately upon the unarmed civilians and set ablaze the markets especially the area from main Chowk to Tehsil office.

Among the 55 dead civilians, scores were burnt alive, while as troopers allegedly dragged a SRTC bus driver out from the bus and showered bullets on the passengers, resulting in on the spot death of 20 passengers.

The memories of the bloodiest massacres carried out against the civilian population in the Valley remain fresh in hearts and minds of the people particularly residents of the apple town even after the passage of 25 years.

Scores of people visited the martyrs grave yard (shaheed grave yard) at Iqbal market Sopore early morning today to observe special condolence prayer in memory of civilian martyrs.

Guest