SOPORE: To mark the 22nd anniversary of massacre, people observed a complete shutdown in North Kashmirs Sopore town on Wednesday.
At least 57 people had been killed by Border Security Forces personnel from 94 Batallion on Jan 6, 1993 while security personnel after the massacre indulged in arson, putting entire town market on fire.
The call for the shutdown was given by the Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani. All shops and other business establishments remained closed in the town while traffic was off the road. The authorities had deployed additional police and paramilitary CRPF men in the town to thwart any protests.
According to the eyewitnesses hundreds of residents offered congregational Fateha in Masjids.
Scores of separatist leaders including JKLF vice chairman Advocate Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Sidiq Shah, Syed Nisar Ahmed Jeelani, Farooq Ahmed Hakeem Maulana Reyaz Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash, Bilal Sidique, Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Imtiyaz Ahmed Reshi addressed people who had gathered at Martyrs Grave yard in Sopore to offer special prayers to the departed souls.
Islamic Political Party Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Naqash in his speech castigated Government of India for taking no action against the perpetrators and said that even after 22 years, not single BSF personnel responsible for the gruesome incident was indicted. Chairman International Forum for Justice Ahsan Untoo said that more than 50 people were murdered by BSF personnel from 94 Batallion and even after lodging an FIR by president Anjaman-i-Munir-ul-Islam, Muhammad Ilyas, no action was taken against the perpetrators. He said justice still continues to elude the victim families.
Meanwhile, Chairman Hurriyat Coference (G) Syed Ali Geelani hailed the people of Sopore for observing a shutdown on the 22nd anniversary the Sopore martyrs.
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