Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for shutdown in various areas of the summer capital on 21 January to mark the 29th anniversary of Gaw Kadal massacre.
“Complete shutdown will be observed at Gaw-Kadal, Basant Bagh, Kani-Kadal, Chota-Bazaar, Budshah Chowk and its adjacent areas on 21 January. On the day, congregational prayers meetings at Gaw-Kadal,” JRL comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said in statement.
“Carnage at Gaw Kadal, Handwara and Kupwara remind us of oppression. Forcible military control followed by such massacres symbolizes callousness under the garb of so-called democracy. The nation of Kashmir is indebted to martyrs who laid down their lives for freedom and resistance leadership pledges to continue this struggle till the achievement of the sacred goal,” the statement said.
The statement said Handwara town will observe strike on 25th January and Kupwara town on 27th January respectively. “People of these areas will recall the sacrifices of great martyrs and protest against the brutality. Moreover to honor Gaw-Kadal, Handwara and Kupwara martyrs, public meetings on local level will also be held at Gaw-Kadal, Handwara and Kupwara in which JRL leaders and activists along with common people will participate and pay homage to great martyrs,” the statement said.
“The massacres at Gaw-Kadal, Handwara and Kupwara in 1990 as a reminder of forcible Indian control and oppression. To strengthen its forcible control on Jammu Kashmir, killing spree was started from Gaw-Kadal when on 21st January 1990 its forces opened their guns on peaceful protesters and callously murdered more than 50 innocents within an hour,” the statement said.
“On that fatal day, a crackdown was held at Chota-Bazaar, Kani-kadal areas where thousands of men women, children and elderly were subjected to severe torture, torment and humiliation. People from Kursoo Rajbagh to Rawalpora and Kani-kadal to Lal Chowk came out on streets against this military crackdown and this people’s protest was showered with bullets near Gaw-Kadal killing many innocents instantly. This massacre was followed by carnages at Handwara and Kupwara where hundreds of Kashmiris were gunned down by police and forces with impunity,” the statement said.
“United India during its struggle for freedom against British witnessed only one Jalianwala Bagh, but Kashmiris have witnessed dozens of such massacres carried out by Indian forces from 1990 and this slaughter is still going on unabated,” the statement said.
“The nation of Kashmir is indebted to martyrs who laid down their lives for freedom and resistance leadership pledges to continue this struggle till the achievement of the sacred goal. Days like 21st, 25th and 27th January 1990 remind us of the sacrifices rendered by our dear ones. These are the days for reiteration of our commitment towards the sacred mission and today while recalling these great sacrifices we reiterate our pledge to take forward the task of martyrs till the achievement of the desired goal,” the statement said.