The north Kashmir town of Sopore observed complete shutdown on Sunday to mark the 26th anniversary of the Sopore massacre. On this day in 1993, the personnel of 94-battalion Border Security Force personnel shot dead 57 civilians in the town and set ablaze 400 shops and 75 residential houses. The mayhem was in retaliation to an attack earlier that day in which militants had snatched rifle of a BSF man in the area.
The shutdown was called by the joint resistance leadership (JRL) and all business establishments remained closed in response.
Hundreds of residents offered congregational prayers for the victims in masjids. Civil society and trade members gathered at Martyrs Graveyard here to offer special prayers for the departed souls.