Srinagar, May 22 In disputed state of Kashmir, the bitter memories of
Hawal massacre still haunt the families who lost their loved ones
despite the passage of two decades, reports Kashmir Media Service.
Over 67 innocent Kashmiris were killed on May 21, 1990, by Indian
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel when they resorted to firing on
the funeral procession of prominent liberation leader, Mirwaiz Moulvi
Muhammad Farooq who was assassinated by unidentified gunmen at his
residence in Srinagar.
Recalling the fateful day, Ghulam Qadeer Beig, an eyewitness of the
carnage, said that after firing on the funeral procession the BSF
personnel started entering houses and shooting people from point blank
range. “We were helpless and at the mercy of those who had come to kill
us. My brother-in-law, Farooq Ahmad Beig, and my son, who was just ten
years old then, were among the killed in the carnage,” he added.
He said that later they went to the Nowhatta Police Station and
lodged a complaint against the troopers. “One of the BSF trooper’s cap
fell in our home. The name inscribed on it was Pokhla. The authorities
have taken no tangible action against the guilty trooper despite our
complaint,” he deplored.
Qadeer’s wife, Parvaiza said, “My brother was one among the people
killed that day. He was participating in the funeral procession of
Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq. He was just paying his respects to a
dead man.” Recounting the events of the day, she said that on hearing
gunshots, many people ran and hid themselves in a neighbour’s house and
she was one of them.
Makhta Begum, 60, mother of Abdul Farooq who was killed by the
troopers on the day, said, “The troops came and snatched my son from my
arms. The troopers followed Farooq Ahmad right from the procession to
his house and killed him.”
