Srinagar: A complete shutdown was observed on Monday in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas to mark the 29th anniversary of Gaw Kadal massacre in which around 53 civilians were killed after paramilitary forces opened fire on demonstrators near a bridge at Gaw Kadal, a Srinagar locality.The call for the hartal was issued by the top Hurriyat leaders comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.
All shops and other business establishments in these areas remained closed. However, public transport plied normally.
Authorities arrested Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) supremo Yasin Malik to prevent him from leading protests on the occasion.
Another top Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the arrest of Malik.
“Impunity, killing over 53 people on spot and injuring more than 250 ! Strongly denounce arrest of Yasin sb, Hilal war and other activists for protesting this massacre,” Mirwaiz tweeted adding that the massacre was “another painful reminder of the huge human cost we pay living under forcible control”.
