In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, today marks the 32nd anniversary of the Bijbehara massacre, one of the most horrific war crimes committed by Indian troops in the territory’s tortured history.
On October 22, 1993, personnel of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful demonstrators in Bijbehara area of Islamabad district, killing over 50 civilians on the spot and injuring dozens more. The protesters were demanding an end to the military siege of Srinagar’s Hazratbal shrine, but the Indian forces responded with bullets, leaving the streets drenched in blood.
Witnesses recall the scene as a “slaughterhouse,” where men, women, and children were shot in cold blood. Thirty-two years on, the families of the victims continue to await justice as India has refused to hold any of the perpetrators accountable. In fact, officers involved in the massacre were rewarded with promotions, reflecting the culture of impunity that defines Indian military operations in the occupied territory.
The Bijbehara bloodbath remains etched in the collective memory of Kashmiris as a grim reminder of India’s occupation marked by indiscriminate violence and suppression.
Since January 1989, Indian troops have martyred 96,474 Kashmiris and carried out more than 25 massacres under draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA), which shield soldiers from prosecution.
Observers note that the Modi regime continues to pursue the same repressive policy, orchestrating Bijbehara-style operations to cement its illegal hold on the territory. Human rights defenders have urged the international community and the United Nations to investigate the massacres and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
The people of Kashmir, despite decades of bloodshed and oppression, remain steadfast in their resolve to continue their peaceful struggle for freedom from Indian occupation, confident that justice and liberation will ultimately prevail.
