21 May 1990: An Eyewitness account

SRINAGAR: “Bodies were lying all around me. Blood was profusely oozing out from my legs. I held my breath, acted as dead and was shocked to see security personnel frisking the pockets of dead and taking away their belongings,” an eyewitness of 21 May 1990 Srinagar bloodshed said.

Tahir Ahmed Baba son of Jalal-u-Din Baba resident of Mash’ali Mohalla, Hawal was only 17 when on 21 May 1990 he heard that gunmen in old city had assassinated Molvi Mohammad Farooq. Security personnel killed scores of mourners by firing upon Mirwaiz’s funeral procession. He was one of the fortunate people who survived that bloodbath though he is physically handicapped now as one of his legs was amputated due to blood loss on that fateful day.

Recounting the nightmare, Tahir Baba said militants had called for complete civil curfew for three days when possibly on Monday (21 May 1990) the news about the killing of Mirwaiz broke. “I along with other people managed to reach Sher-i-Kahsmir Institute of Medical Science through interiors of the city though security personnel had sealed every nook and corner of the capital. Thousands of people including women were waiting outside SKIMS wailing and crying,” he said adding that funeral procession of Molvi Farooq started from SKIMS itself and passed through roads amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. “People in thousands, especially youth and women, were seen moving towards Soura. With each step the procession was swelling as passersby and others joined in, chanting pro-freedom slogans.”

“Security forces deployed on roads retreated at every point, as the procession was very huge. However the situation changed when people reached near Islamia College. A huge contingent of security personnel had been kept ready to prevent the procession from moving forward. They had blocked the road with drop-gates, and heavy vehicles,” Baba said adding the security personnel deployed on roads did not fire upon the procession.

“There was a security camp inside Islamia College and the security personnel from that camp fired indiscriminately on people. The continued firing shots created panic and people fell on road like cards. Opposite to Islamia College was Animal Husbandry Office and I myself witnessed people who climbed over the wall of that office were hit by bullets and they fell down. I tried to jump from the wall and suddenly bullets pierced in my both legs and I fell over dead bodies,” handicapped Baba said adding that the body of Mirwaiz was lying in the middle of the road and whosoever was coming close to it was being shot by security personnel.

He said there was uproar from everywhere. People were crying. Road was filled with blood. “Those who were lying injured were crying for help and I was one among them. Scores of security personnel walked over dead bodies and shot those whom they find crying for help. I was scared and held my breath. What I saw shocked me. Some security personnel began frisking the bodies, opening their pockets and taking away belongings. They (security personnel) were snatching golden earrings and chains and finger rings from the dead women,” Tahir said.

He said a large contingent of forces personnel was brought in to wash the blood on roads. “They sprayed buckets of water on roads, cleared it and fled from the scene. When people saw the troopers fleeing, they came and put the dead bodies into pushcarts. All the injured were rushed to SKIMS and I was one among them. Due to blood loss my both legs had become functionless, however due to efforts of doctors one of my leg was saved while the other was amputated,” he said.

52 people, including four women were killed on that fateful day. “The total number of persons who got killed on that day was said to be 72 but the list available with us is of 52 people, including 4 women namely Shakila Banoo, Jalla Begam, Shamima Akhtar and Fatima Banoo, an Awami Action Committee member said. (CNS)

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