Sopore massacre
Encyclopedia
The "Sopore Massacre" refers to the killing of 55 Kashmiri civilians by the India
n Border Security Force (BSF)
in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol, in the town of Sopore in Kashmir
on 6 January 1993.
, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir
, India
. Mainly known for its apples, Sopore has been a major trading center in Kashmir. Iqbal market is the main market of the town. Eight km (5 miles) from Sopore is the famed Wular lake, the largest fresh water lake in Asia
.
militants attacked a platoon of Border Security Force
soldiers at Baba Yousuf Lane near Sopore and killing at least one. It was after this point that security forces went on a rampage and proceeded to indiscriminately fire at local residents and set fire to local homes and businesses. Witnesses claim that BSF soldiers attacked a public coach killing the driver and at least 15 passengers as well as attacking and burning three other cars. Some residents were burnt alive as security forces set fire to their homes and businesses. In all, official Indian Government reports state that 250 shops and 50 homes were burnt down although Kashmiri sources claim as many as 450 buildings were burnt down.
initially claimed that the high civilian casualties were the result of an intense gun battle between the BSF soldiers and militants in which an explosives cache belonging to the militants exploded and spread the fire to nearby buildings. However, the government was later prompted to initiate a judicial inquiry into the matter and was also forced to suspend several BSF officers due to the widespread publicity that the incident had generated. By November 1994, no details regarding the judicial investigation had been made public. Criticism was also leveled against the Indian Government by Human Rights Groups who argued that because the investigation was conducted in Delhi
, some abbr=on 916 away, it was difficult for many witnesses to testify. Had the investigation been held in the capital of Jammu and Kashmir
, Srinagar
, which was only abbr=on 35 away, it would have allowed many more witnesses to present their arguments.
One day after the massacre
, thousands of Kashmiris defying a government-imposed curfew, protested against the actions of the BSF soldiers on the streets of Sopore. The then Prime Minister
Narasimha Rao
, ordered state governor Girish Saxena
to visit Sopore and announced a compensation of £2,275 for the relatives of the deceased. However, Muslim leaders, left-wing
politicians and Human Rights organizations have criticized Saxena for failing to stop Human Rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir and demanded a parliamentary delegation be sent to assess the destruction.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Border Security Force (BSF)
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol, in the town of Sopore in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
on 6 January 1993.
Background
Sopore is a major town in Kashmir within the Baramulla District. It is 50 km (31.1 mi) north-west from SrinagarSrinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Mainly known for its apples, Sopore has been a major trading center in Kashmir. Iqbal market is the main market of the town. Eight km (5 miles) from Sopore is the famed Wular lake, the largest fresh water lake in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
The Massacre
On the morning of January 6, 1993 when a group of 7-8 armed JKLFJammu Kashmir Liberation Front
The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front , founded by Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat, is a Kashmiri nationalist organization founded in Birmingham, UK on May 29, 1977. From then until 1994 it was an active terrorist organization with branches in several cities and towns of the UK, and in several other...
militants attacked a platoon of Border Security Force
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
soldiers at Baba Yousuf Lane near Sopore and killing at least one. It was after this point that security forces went on a rampage and proceeded to indiscriminately fire at local residents and set fire to local homes and businesses. Witnesses claim that BSF soldiers attacked a public coach killing the driver and at least 15 passengers as well as attacking and burning three other cars. Some residents were burnt alive as security forces set fire to their homes and businesses. In all, official Indian Government reports state that 250 shops and 50 homes were burnt down although Kashmiri sources claim as many as 450 buildings were burnt down.
Response
The Indian GovernmentGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
initially claimed that the high civilian casualties were the result of an intense gun battle between the BSF soldiers and militants in which an explosives cache belonging to the militants exploded and spread the fire to nearby buildings. However, the government was later prompted to initiate a judicial inquiry into the matter and was also forced to suspend several BSF officers due to the widespread publicity that the incident had generated. By November 1994, no details regarding the judicial investigation had been made public. Criticism was also leveled against the Indian Government by Human Rights Groups who argued that because the investigation was conducted in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, some abbr=on 916 away, it was difficult for many witnesses to testify. Had the investigation been held in the capital of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
, Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, which was only abbr=on 35 away, it would have allowed many more witnesses to present their arguments.
One day after the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
, thousands of Kashmiris defying a government-imposed curfew, protested against the actions of the BSF soldiers on the streets of Sopore. The then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
Narasimha Rao
Narasimha Rao
Narasimha Rao or Narasimharao is one of the Indian names.* Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao served as the 10th Prime Minister of India.* Modireddy Venkat Narasimha Rao, is a former Indian cricketer....
, ordered state governor Girish Saxena
Girish Chandra Saxena
Girish Chandra 'Gary' Saxena is a former governor of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. Born in Agra in 1928 he joined IPS and held many positions in police and retired as Director of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency....
to visit Sopore and announced a compensation of £2,275 for the relatives of the deceased. However, Muslim leaders, left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
politicians and Human Rights organizations have criticized Saxena for failing to stop Human Rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir and demanded a parliamentary delegation be sent to assess the destruction.
See also
- List of massacres in India
- Gawakadal massacreGawakadal massacreThe Gawakadal massacre was named after the Gawakadal bridge in Srinagar, Kashmir, where, on January 20, 1990, the Indian paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on a group of unarmed Kashmiri protesters, including women and children...
- Zakoora And Tengpora MassacreZakoora And Tengpora MassacreThe Zukoora And Tengpora Massacre refers to the killing of civilians at Zakoora crossing and Tengpora bypass road in Kashmir on 28 Feberuary 1990, by the Indian Army.-Background:...
- Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
- BotingooBotingooBotingoo is a village in the Zaingair area of Baramulla District in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the largest villages of Zaingair. It is surrounded by many other villages like Mundji, Muqam, Magraypora, Hathlangoo, Watlab to name a few. Besides there is a famous shrine of Baba...