Pir Dastgeer shrine massacre a stark reminder of Indian brutality in IIOJK
Islamabad: The massacre at the historic Pir Dastgeer Sahib shrine in Srinagar on May 8, 1991, remains a grim reminder of the brutalities and grave human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian forces in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, personnel of India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) opened indiscriminate fire on thousands of mourners who had gathered at Pir Dastgeer Sahib in the Khanyar area of downtown Srinagar on 8th may 1991to attend the funeral prayers of some martyred Kashmiris. The firing resulted in the martyrdom of 18 civilians on the spot, including an infant and his father, while several others were injured.
Pir Dastgeer Sahib is a revered 200-year-old shrine located in Khanyar, Srinagar. The shrine houses a centuries-old copy of the Holy Quran believed to have been written by Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA), along with the sacred relic locally known as Mouia Pak, a strand of hair associated with Hazrat Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA).
The shrine was originally constructed in 1806 and later expanded in 1877 by Khawaja Sanaullah Shawl. It serves as a major spiritual and religious centre in the area and attracts thousands of devotees from across Kashmir, particularly during the Urs of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA). Owing to its religious and historical significance, the shrine is regarded as one of the holiest Muslim shrines in Kashmir.
Political analysts and human rights observers say the Pir Dastgeer massacre reflects the culture of impunity enjoyed by Indian forces in IIOJK under draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which grant sweeping powers to troops operating in the territory.
International human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised India for shielding its forces from accountability and enabling widespread abuses in IIOJK. Observers maintain that India has become an apartheid state where human rights and equality have become a distant idea, adding New Delhi continues to suppress dissent and violate fundamental freedoms in the occupied territory with little international accountability due to global political interests.
