Srinagar, January 21 (KNO) : The 29th anniversary of Gaw Kadal massacre on Monday was marked by shutdown over JRL’s call, restrictions and detention by police in Srinagar. Authorities imposed restrictions in areas where Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for a shutdown.
Police also swung into action and detained chairman of JKLF, Muhammad Yasin Malik, from his residence at Maisuma. The shutdown was called by Joint Resistance Leadership and all shops and other business establishments were closed in the areas including Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Basant Bagh, Mandir Bagh, Red Cross Road, Exchange Road, Budshah Chowk, Residency Road, MA Road, Abi Guzar, Polo View, Sarai Bala, Court Road, Kukar Bazar, Hari Sigh High Street and Goni Khan.
On January 21, 1990, locals said at least 52 civilians were killed when government forces opened fire on a procession at a bridge in the Gaw Kadal area of Srinagar, where people gathered to protest the alleged molestation of women by personnel of government forces. As per police, 20 civilians were killed in the bloodbath, which was followed by a series of massacres. The government forces had fired on demonstrators, who raised pro-freedom slogans, without any warning.(KNO)