SRINAGAR, Jan 20: For Manohar Lal, a Pandit living in the periphery of Gaw Kadal area-January 21, 1991 is the most dreadful day of his life.
“Everyone was wailing and blood was all around,” said Lal, now a retired government servant. On January 20, 1990, CRPF had barged into several houses in an old city locality called Chota Bazar. Scared that the protests would erupt against the incident, authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar on January 21, 1990.
On January 21, 1990 a demonstration against Chota Bazar incident at Gaw Kadal was fired upon resulting in the death of 50 persons, according to various Human rights organizations. Protesters in large numbers were also injured.
Lal, who along with his family continues to reside in the same locality, said that he was in his home when he heard the thuds of bullets all around. “Then there were screams and cries. I peeped through my window and what I saw at that time still traumatizes me. I still get sleepless nights when I recall that incident,” the Pandit has told KNS, a local news gathering agency.
During the years of militancy, Lal along with his family stayed in Kashmir when all his relatives fled valley. Pandits, across valley fled to Jammu after the militancy started in Kashmir. “I have witnessed all the gory scenes here. I stand witness to the events that how innocents were killed and tortured everyday during that period.”
Stating that Gaw-Kadal massacre was one of the most unfortunate leaf from the pages of Kashmir’s history, Lal recalled that the injured were rushed in boats via Jehlum river to the health centres. “The people who sustained the bullet injuries were crying with pain and some even died in boats as people were taking them to hospitals.”
Lal, 64, says that he keeps on narrating the woeful tales of the valley to his children. “I didn’t move out from my home after Gaw Kadal incident for one month. Our Muslim neighbors used to provide us the essentials. The incident has shaken me within and I don’t want to recall that again. I pray to God that whatever happened in the past must not happen again.”
His wife Rachna, said that after one month of the Gaw Kadal incident, when she went to the market, many people told her to leave valley so that they could remain safe outside. “I told them that we have decided to be here. This is home, the place of our ancestors. We should be together in both harsh and good times.”
Lal says that every year he participates in the protest demonstration on January 21, against the Gaw Kadal massacre. “I participate in the demonstration to register my silent protest against the incident that took place before my eyes.”
“While participating in the demonstration, I keep a secret,” said Lal, adding, “I do not tell other protesters that I am a Pandit.”
(Originally published in the Kashmir Times on January 21, 2014).
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