LEST WE FORGET

By: Irfan Kashmirie

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In shaheedu’n ki diyat ahli kaleesa se na maang..

Qadro keemat main hai khoon jin ka haram se badkar

I remember I was a kid reading in 4th primary. It was Friday that I will never ever forget. Everyone was enthusiastic about Friday prayer. Everyone was requested to offer Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid, Bijbehara where from a peaceful procession was to be carried out to show the solidarity with the fellow brothers who were caged in Holy Hazratbal Shrine, Dargah Srinagar. Indian Army's siege of the holiest Muslim shrine in the Kashmir Valley rekindled resentment at India. I along with my brother were strictly advised to stay back home.

Tayghon key saaye mein hum, pal kar jawaan huwey hain

Khanjar hilaal kaa hai qaumi nishaan hamara

More than 15,000 protestors gathered in the courtyard of the Jamia Masjid after finishing Friday prayers. The protestors marched through the streets shouting slogans, demanding an end to the Hazratbal siege and supporting Kashmiri independence. When the procession reached the main road (Goriwan National Highway), BSF blocked the street and started firing indiscriminately, killing at least 40 people on the spot and injuring more than 200 others. The firing continued and the streets were painted red. The firing continued and troops targeted the crowd and those, who lay injured on the ground. No ambulances or medical staff was allowed access to the injured persons although hospital was only few yards away from the site of the massacre. Later, when people managed to shift some of the injured to hospital, the BSF men even fired on them inside the hospital complex, killing and injuring more people.

The incident sent shockwaves across the length and breadth of vale. All this was being done to weaken the resolve of Kashmiris but history is a testament that falsehood is bound to perish. The playfield in which I along with my friends used to play cricket was turned into martyrs graveyard. People were busy digging the graves and one after the other countless dead bodies poured in and were laid to rest. This saga of burying the martyred continued the whole night.

An FIR (No 90/93) and a magisterial inquiry was ordered but to no avail. The Inquiry report, vide number EN/BFC/93/23-24, prepared by the Inquiry Magistrate and submitted to the government on 13th November, concluded that firing on the procession was absolutely unprovoked and the claim made by the security forces that they fired in self defense after militant firing is baseless and concocted. The inquiry report further stated that the security personnel have committed offence out of vengeance and their barbarous act was deliberate and well planned. The report indicted Deputy Commandant of BSF JK Radola for tacit approval given by him to indiscriminate and un-provoked firing. Eighteen long years have passed, the scars of the incident are still fresh and victims are still awaiting justice which is not expected till we are under the clutches of India. Can we afford to forget all this against a good job or economic packages?

wo ujda gulshan veeran galiyan wo jalte bag aur udaas kaliyaan

jamari maau’n kay behtey aansu’n kasam hai tum ko bula na dena

May Allah grant them Jannah and fulfill our dream of free Kashmir.

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