With the first light of daybreak casting hues of pink and gold across the landscape, the subtle crunch of frost beneath each step resonates in the air. Locals, bundled in traditional pherans, embark on their day, their breath visible in the icy atmosphere. As the day progresses, the feeble warmth of the sun begins to thaw the frozen panorama, casting elongated shadows on the glistening snow. January’s chilly mornings in Kashmir serve as poignant reminders of the region’s enduring beauty, where every frosty breath and frost-kissed landscape narrate tales of resilience, tradition, and the timeless allure of this enchanting valley.On the gloomy day of January 6, 1993, Kashmir witnessed one of its most brutal massacres. Indian forces martyred 54 civilians in North Kashmir’s Sopore town. The town had already endured a series of carnages and arson during the tumultuous 1990s. Following the lowering of 54 coffins, containing charred civilians beyond recognition, into graves and tending to hundreds injured individuals, the promise of justice spurred the town to reconstruct 27 homes and 350 business units, amounting to Rs 30 crore in January 1993.
Indian troops, in a shocking incident, pulled the driver of a bus traveling from Srinagar to Bandipora via Sopore town out of the vehicle and unleashed a hail of bullets on the passengers, resulting in the immediate death of 20 travellers. Subsequently, the troops doused surrounding buildings, shops, and houses with gunpowder and petrol, setting them ablaze. Over 400 business establishments and 75 residential houses in five localities—Shalpora, Shahabad, Muslimpeer, Kraltang, and Arampora—were reduced to ashes. Among the structures lost were landmarks like Women’s Degree College and cinema – Samad Talkies.
A day prior to the massacre, a fruit-laden truck had become stranded in a drain near the main Chowk Sopore. Four to five individuals attempting to rescue the truck sought refuge in a shop when BSF troops initiated gunfire on the people. The BSF personnel entered the shop and killed four individuals. Miraculously, one young man evaded the bullets and survived. The survivors of this brutal event recounted how the same people who had offered tea to BSF men in the morning were later showered with bullets, resulting in the instantaneous martyrdom of all.
Justice has remained elusive for the families affected by the Sopore massacre over the past 31 years. Their loved ones fell victim to the actions of Indian Paramilitary Border Security Force personnel on January 6, 1993, in Sopore town. Despite the passage of three decades, the people of Sopore are still awaiting justice, as the Indian Supreme Court has made minimal progress in investigating this tragic incident. The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) underscores the prolonged denial of justice for the victims and their families.