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Srinagar, January 27, 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, justice continues to elude the families of 27 innocent Kashmiris, who were killed by Indian troops in Kupwara for observing strike on India’s Republic Day in 1994.The eyewitnesses, while revealing details of the fateful day during a media interview in Kupwara, said that Indian troops of 15 Punjab and Garhwal Regiment opened indiscriminate fire on people at main market on January 27, 1993, leaving 27 of them dead on the spot.
They said that the massacre was bloodiest in the area after January 25, 1990, when 25 people were killed by the personnel of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in Handwara for protesting against carnage in Gaw Kadal Srinagar.
The locals said the troops opened fire without any provocation and the occupation forces fired to avenge the strike observed by people on January 26 as the patrolling party of Indian Punjab Regiment had warned the shopkeepers a day earlier of dire consequences if they observed strike on India’s Republic Day.
Nazir Ahmad, a local, said, “Even after the police registered a case, the troops responsible for the killing continue to roam free and enjoying impunity.” Recalling the fateful day, Mushtaq Ahmad, another resident of the area, said, “The troops posted on hilltop opened fire on locals and continued it for nearly 20 minutes. As the guns fell silent, there was blood and scattered corpses.”
He said that the survivors had not been allowed by the troopers to take the injured to hospital or move the dead bodies and instead people were asked to assemble in a ground where they were subjected to identification parade.
“We are waiting for justice since then and the murderers are roaming and enjoying impunity,” said Nazir Ahmad, a local. Recalling the fateful day, Gulzar Ahmad, another local, said that troops posted on hilltop opened fire on locals and continued it for nearly 20 minutes. “As the guns fell silent, there was blood and scattered corpses,” he added.
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Kashmir Media Service
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