Srinagar
A complete shutdown is being observed on Friday in north Kashmir’s Handwara town against the massacre of 21 civilians allegedly by the Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel on this day in 1990.
The shutdown call was issued by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)—comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik— to remember 21 civilians killed after Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel opened fire on demonstrators on Handwara on January 25, 1990.
All shops and other business establishments in these areas remained closed while public transport is off the roads.
An eyewitness said that Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the town to prevent any protest in the town.
Congregational Fateh Khwani was held at martyr’s graveyard Handwara with people vowing to remember the sacrifices of the victims.
Reports said that shutdown is being observed in Handwara, Langate, Qalamabad, Mawer, Villagam, Rajwar and other areas.