Shutdown & Restrictions in Kashmir in wake of Hawal Massacre anniversary

Malik Sameed
Srinagar, May 21 (KNB): The PDP-BJP led Government on Monday enforced strict restrictions in downtown areas to foil ‘Eidgah march’ called by the Joint Resistance Leadership to commemorate the martyrdom anniversaries of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and victims of Hawal massacre, a complete shutdown was also observed in the length and breadth of Kashmir valley in memory of the martyrs.



Despite curbs and blocking of roads by police and paramilitary forces, Awami Action Committee (AAC) members tried to take out processions and march towards the martyrs’ graveyard at Aali Masjid, but their attempts were thwarted by the forces.
The joint resistance leadership Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik had asked people to reach Eidgah where a “congregational pledge will be taken for protecting the martyrs’ blood and taking their mission to its logical conclusion.”
Besides Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, several amalgam leaders including Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and also many leaders and activists of Awami Action Committee (AAC) were either detained or their residences raided by the police.



May 21st is marked as the martyrdom anniversary of the Shaheed-e-Milat, Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq assassinated by unidentified gunmen and to commemorate the martyrdom of 65 civilians and Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Abdul Gani Lone, who was 12 years later also assassinated by unidentified gunmen near the grave of Mirwaiz Farooq at Martyrs Graveyard in Eidgah. Shortly after the massacre, an FIR vide number 35/1990 was lodged at Police Station Nowhatta. (KNB)