Kupwara Massacre - 26th January 1994

It was on 27 January 1994 that 27 civilians, mostly traders of Kupwara town, fell to indiscriminate firing by Army men. After a lapse of around 20 years, justice continues to elude the families of victims. The survivors allege that the massacre was carried out by the soldiers to punish the people for observing shutdown on January 26. Memories of the massacre are still fresh in the minds of people and they are waiting for the day when the perpetrators would be punished.

“A patrol party of Punjab regiment of Army had warned the shopkeepers on the eve of January 26 of dire consequences if they observe strike and didn’t celebrate the R-day, next day,” said a local shopkeeper who survived the massacre.

When blood poured the streets

Gawkadal massacre is perhaps the first massacre in the history in which signals of massacre were given well before conducting the massacre. On the frightful day of January 20, 1990 Jagmohan’s first address as governor dumbfounded everyone. It was clear cut provocative address.

In his address he stated:” I have come as a nurse. I will not take any salary. I will just take rupees 1000 to meet my personal expenses. I have promise you a clean administration. But if anybody creates a law and order problem, Meray Haathon say Aman ka patta Khisak jaye ga (the cards of peace I’m carrying will slip away from my hands)."

Bijbehara Massacre (22 October 1993)

It had been a week since the Dargath Hazratbal was placed under siege by the army on October 15, 1993 to flush out a group of JKLF militants, who had taken shelter inside the shrine complex. The siege caused widespread anger across Kashmir which would find expression in the form of protest demonstrations.

On October 22, after Friday prayers, around 15,000 people gathered in the court yard of the local Jamia Masjid Bijbehara to register their protest against the siege. A procession then started marching through various streets shouting slogans for the ending of the Hazratbal siege and in support of Kashmir’s freedom.