A complete shutdown is being observed in Ajas village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday to pay homage to the five civilians who were killed allegedly by a Border Security Force (BSF) officer on this day in 1992.
All the business establishments and offices remained closed in the area, while thin traffic was witnessed on the roads.
Five civilians were killed 25 years ago in this sleepy village of Bandipora after BSF men had laid siege around it.
“It was Shab-i-Mehraj. A peaceful protest rally was held by the people. The soldiers came from other side of the village, and laid a cordon. They took protestors into the lawn of Jamia Masjid. Then their officer came and took out pistol from his holster. He instantly shot four persons on their forehead,” said a villager who is witness to what he describes was a “doomsday”.
Four people-Abdul Rashid Ganaie, Muhammad Maqbool Rather, Abdul Rahim Rather and Muhammad Sultan Lone were killed by the officer in the lawn of the Jamia Masjid, said villagers, while fifth one Wali Rehman Khan was “tortured” by the officer and later villagers said he was taken by BSF men along with them. From that moment, the villagers said he remains “disappeared”.