A complete shutdown is being observed on Monday in Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas to mark the 29th anniversary of Gaw Kadal massacre.
The shutdown call was issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)—comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik— to remember 51 civilians killed after paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel opened fire on demonstrators on Gaw Kadal bridge on January 21, 1990.
An eye witness said authorities have imposed strict restrictions in and around Gaw Kadal, Maisuma, Basant Bagh and Lal Chowk areas.
Shutdown is being observed in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas of Mandir Bagh, Maisuma, Basant Bagh, Gaw Kadal, Red Cross Road, Exchange Road, Budshah Chowk, Abi Guzar, Residency Road, MA Road, Sarai Bala, Court Road, Koker Bazar, Hari Sigh High Street, Goni Khan and Polo View.
All shops and other business establishments in these areas remained closed for the day. However, public transport plied normally on MA and Residency roads.
On January 21, 1990, at least 51 civilians were killed after CRPF troopers opened fire on a procession at Gaw Kadal in Srinagar, where people had gathered to protest the reported molestation of women by the forces’ personnel during a night raid in Chotta Bazar.