Daily Times

Kashmir has resumed to be mere theatrics. I mean I have watched movies, turned pages of novels, have witnessed fictitious stories, which entertain and enlighten people. But the real theatrics with literal characters are only witnessed in Kashmir. The uncertainty that the valley is bound with has engulfed the consciousness of people. There is hardly any scope for prediction, as it keeps changing, invariably like other war zones. Kashmir is like a black hole; whoever dares to try to know the truth is eventually put to rest. “We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.”

21 years have gone since rivers and skies turned blood red. That day when we lost our brethren. People still walk by the Gaw Kadal Bridge, but no one remembers what happened that day.

The impact of the massacre was such that from hundreds, people started crossing over the line in thousands. Boys as young as 15 and 14 went across the line. 53 people died, and 250 sustained bullet injuries. As usual, the official death toll was put to 21. Police registered the FIR (No.3/90) at the Kralkhud police station. It was registered against an atrocious ‘mob’. Nothing was written against the action of the CRPF and the police. The case stands closed and the culprits are untraceable.

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has asked SSP Srinagar to appear in person and file the status report regarding the Gow Kadal massacre of 1990 in which 22 persons were killed and more than 50 injured by the forces. The SHRC has sent a notice to SSP Srinagar in response to the petition filed by Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, Chairman International Forum for Justice and Human Rights in case SHRC/112/2012. According to the notice, the SHRC has asked the SSP to appear on November 28 along with the status report. Police has been maintaining that they have identified the unit that opened the fire at the protesters.

According to the petitioner, families of those whose dear ones were killed in the incident were yet to receive compensation, as the police have failed to trace the majority of the families, saying they have migrated from their original places. The petitioner said that he was hopeful that the police would come up with the names of the forces personnel in its status report on November 28.

21 years have gone since rivers and skies turned blood red. People still walk by the Gaw Kadal Bridge, but no one remembers what happened that day

The Jammu and Kashmir police, on Thursday, said that the Gaw Kadal massacre case has been closed, as despite a lot of efforts to trace the culprits, no clue was found. The police in its reply also stated that all the records pertaining to the case at the police station of Kralkhud were washed away during the ‘devastating’ floods in 2014.

The reply was submitted to the SHRC by the SSP Srinagar on Thursday after he was directed by the chairman SHRC to submit the status report as to why the police had delayed the investigation into the January 21, 1990 Gawkadal massacre. The petition was filed by a rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, in July 2012.

The SSP in his report said that strenuous efforts were made to trace the culprits but no clue was found. “Finally the investigation into the case was closed as untraced,” the report reads.

It states that the records pertaining to the case, including case diaries kept at the police station Kralkhud, were washed away during the devastating deluge of 2014.

Kashmir is now looking just like a horror movie, more in agony, more traumatised. I mean how could floods wash away those records while all other records are intact. Leave justice aside, it is a big blow to the Constitution and democracy.

The government has come up with a demagogic rhetoric to hide the oppression unleashed on the people. The state police has shown vindictiveness during the five years of the last Modi regime, as observed during mob lynching. Just like every institution is infested, this department too is in jeopardy.

It is a conscience-striking statement from the police officials. I personally believe it is the right time to express concern and come up with legal interventions. The case should go to the Amnesty International. How long they will the government in Jammu and Kashmir hide the miseries inflicted on people? Earlier, we witnessed restriction of press, and that resulted in serious repercussions for the valley.

All the families who lost their members must show more strength, and generosity with the available witnesses. All those who have been working on the case should knock more official to get justice for the victims.

The writer is a student at GMC Srinagar