On October 22, 1993, at the Bijbehara town in Kashmir, an incident occurred between protestors and the 74th Battalion of the Border Security Force, which came to be known as the Bijbehara Massacre. It’s been 28 years since the incident. Let us look back at the incident through this article.
The Incident Backdrop
In October 1993, as stated by the Indian Army, it surrounded the Hazratbal Shrine after receiving reports about the presence of armed rebels in the complex and changing of the complex’s locks. For three years preceding this incident, the valley witnessed insurgents waging a rebellion against Indian rule. The Indian Army sieging the holiest Muslim shrine in the valley sparked anger towards India. The worsening of the mosque crisis led to sporadic public demonstrations. Indian officials imposed a curfew and placed thousands of troopers across the town’s main streets.
The Actual Incident
October 22, 1993, when the actual incident took place, was the eighth day of the siege. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 protestors gathered in the town’s Jamia Masjid’s courtyard after the Friday prayers. The protestors marched, shouting pro-independence slogans. They demanded an end to the Hazratbal siege and demonstrated against an earlier incident that involved firing on protestors near the Hazratbal Shrine.
When the protestors arrived at the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, a large contingent of the BSF confronted them. As the protectors reached the Gooriwan area of the town, the BSF allegedly blocked the road. The troops fired indiscriminately killing at least 48 people on the spot and injuring over 200. The firing continued for around ten minutes.
Enquiry Commission
The Indian government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killings. It withdrew the BSF unit from Bijbehara. The then BFS Director General ordered a commissioner to investigate the massacre incident.
On November 13, 1993, the report of the Enquiry Magistrate was submitted to the government. It concluded, “firing upon the procession was absolutely unprovoked and the claim made by the security forces that they were forced to retaliate against the firing of militants for self-defence is baseless and concocted”.
Furthermore, the report stated, “The security personnel have committed [the] offence out of vengeance and their barbarous act was deliberate and well planned”. It also indicted JK Radola, the Deputy Commandant of the BSF, for “tacit approval given by him for the indiscriminate and un-provoked firing.”
The report recommended “the immediate dismissal of the accused persons who committed this dastardly act”. Additionally, it recommended, “this should be further followed up with the initiation of criminal proceedings against them and every effort should be made to ensure that justice is done and [the] maximum possible punishment under the law of the land is awarded to such malignant and sick minded individuals.”
Recommendations
On November 1, 1993, the Commission asked for the incident’s reports from the Defence and Home Affairs ministries and the Jammu and Kashmir’s government. The Ministry of Defence denied the involvement of the army. The Ministry of Home Affairs sent a report based on the Magisterial Inquiry. Additionally, the Commission also asked for copies of the testimonies given by the six witnesses.
On January 17, 1994, the Commission concluded “…that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated under the Border Security Force Act against 14 members of the Force, and further that, on the basis of a Magisterial Inquiry, steps may be initiated to launch prosecutions…”. Furthermore, it also recommended “immediate interim compensation” to be paid to the families of the victims, along with “a thorough review should be undertaken by the government of the circumstances and conditions in which Units of the Border Security Force are deployed and expected to operate in situations involving only civilian population[s]”.
We hope this gave you some insights into the Bijbehara massacre.
