‘Chotta Bazaar massacre: A grim reminder of Indian occupation’s brutality’
Washington: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, a US-based Kashmiri activist and Secretary General of the Kashmir Awareness Forum, has said that the Chotta Bazaar massacre in Srinagar is a grim reminder of the ongoing human rights violations by the Indian troops in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, on June 11, 1991, Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel opened fire at civilians after an alleged clash with unknown attackers at Zainakadal in Srinagar city. At least 32 people were killed, and 22 others were injured in the carnage.
In a statement issued in Washington, Dr Fai said that the Chotta Bazaar massacre is one of several instances where the Indian army perpetrated violence against Kashmiri civilians. Other notable incidents include the Chattisingpora massacre and the Pathribal killing, which were initially blamed on ‘foreign militants’ but later found to be the work of the Indian army, he said.
Notably, on March 20, 2000, Indian army troops in disguise massacred 34 Sikhs in Chattisingpora village of Islamabad district when former US President Bill Clinton was visiting India. India immediately claimed that the killers were ‘foreign militants’. Later, it was proved that it was carried out by the Indian army. Another notable incident was the Pathribal killing on March 25, 2000. India again claimed that it involved ‘foreign militants’. However, 10 years later, on March 19, 2010, the Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court of India that it was cold-blooded murder carried out by the Indian army.
Dr. Fai reiterated that the Indian army’s impunity is enabled by draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). He urged the international community to press India to repeal these laws and end its occupation of Kashmir. “By instituting such laws, India can only be seen as a foreign occupier and actually promotes a state of war with Kashmiris, which it has done for 76 years”.
He called on the international community to take action and hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in Kashmir. “It is time, world powers, to back up your words with deeds instead of just lip service and to truly lead in championing those values that have brought progress to the world community instead of selling them all for corporate profits”, Dr Fai added.
