Kupwara, Jan 27: A complete shutdown was observed on Friday in Kupwara against the massacre of 27 civilians allegedly by the soldiers of 15 Punjab and Gudwal regiment on this day in 1994.
 The call for the shutdown was given by the Hurriyat Conference led by
 Syed Ali Shah Geelani. All the shops and business establishments across the district remained closed. However traffic plied normally. Bar Association Kupwara also suspended their work.
 Fateh-Khawani for the deceased was held in all the Masjids of the district after the Friday prayers. 
 “Army fired on civilians to avenge the strike observed by the people on January 26 in 1994. The patrolling party of the 15 Punjab regiment had warned the traders a day earlier of dire consequences if they observed strike on the fateful day,” the locals said.
 Army had maintained that the civilians were killed in cross firing during an encounter with militants.
 Though Police had registered a case vide FIR No-19 of 1994 under sections 302, and 307 RPC in Police Station Kupwara, the accused soldiers are yet to be punished. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ahsan Antoo, Chairman, International Forum for Justice said he will file a case with State Human Rights Commission and High Court to expedite investigation into the case and punish the accused.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST