Shopian May 29 2018 (KNO) : A complete shutdown is being observed in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday to remember two young women, Asiya and Neelofar, who were allegedly raped and murdered in 2009. All shops, business establishments and educational institutions are closed and the traffic is off the roads on the call of joint resistance leaders (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik against what is known as “Shopian tragedy”. On May 29, 2009, Asiya, (17) and Neelofar (22) had gone to their small orchard across the ankle deep Ranbi Ara stream in south Kashmir town however did not return home. The next morning, the dead bodies of the sisters-in-law were recovered from the banks of the stream.
The family and locals alleged the duo had been raped and murdered by the government forces. The incident triggered widespread protests across Kashmir valley while as the Shopian town observed shutdown c straight 47 days. Later CBI was called to probe the death of Asiya and Neelofar which declared that the young ladies had died due to drowning. However, there was nobody to believe. “Shopian Coordination Committee” which was formed to seek justice for Asiya and Neelofar had termed the CBI probe “to hush up” the crime.