APHC Pays Tribute to Victims of Zakura and Tengpora Massacres on 35th Anniversary

Decades may have passed, but the bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris in the Zakura and Tengpora massacres remains a painful reminder of India’s unrelenting oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has paid rich tribute to the victims of the Zakura and Tengpora massacres on their 35th anniversary, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Kashmiri people to their struggle for freedom. On March 1, 1990, Indian troops brutally opened fire on peaceful protesters in the Zakura and Tengpora areas of Srinagar, killing over 50 innocent Kashmiris and injuring dozens more.

APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement issued from Srinagar, condemned the massacre as part of India’s systematic campaign of genocide in IIOJK. He stated that the killings were aimed at terrorizing the local population and suppressing their rightful demand for self-determination. He lamented that 35 years have passed, yet the families of the victims continue to await justice. Minhas stressed that the memory of these massacres remains fresh in the hearts of Kashmiris and serves as a grim reminder of India’s ongoing atrocities in the region.

He highlighted that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has been turned into the most militarized zone in the world, where Indian troops have carried out widespread human rights violations for over seven decades. “Since January 1989, more than 96,408 Kashmiris have been martyred by Indian forces, while countless others have been subjected to torture, enforced disappearances, and illegal detentions,” he added.

Minhas emphasized that no amount of brutality, Indian state-sponsored terrorism, or military repression can crush the spirit of the Kashmiri resistance. He vowed that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs would never be forgotten and pledged to continue their struggle despite all odds.

He also called on the international community, human rights organizations, and the United Nations to take immediate action against India’s war crimes in IIOJK. He urged the UN War Crimes Tribunal to initiate proceedings against Indian troops responsible for massacres, extrajudicial killings, and grave violations of international law.

Reiterating APHC’s commitment to Kashmir’s freedom movement, Minhas stressed that the sacrifices of the martyrs will remain an inspiration until the people of IIOJK achieve their right to justice, dignity, and self-determination.