1993 Lal Chowk fire: Difference between revisions
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'''The 1993 Lal Chowk fire''' (literally ''Red Square'') refers to the arson attack on the main commercial center of downtown [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir|Kashmir]] that took place on 10 April 1993. The fire was started by Indian [[Border Security Force]]s [BSF], apparently in retaliation for the burning of an abandoned BSF building by local residents.<ref name=hrw>[http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=X0QQx5ObGysC&dq=The+Human+Rights+Crisis+in+Kashmir:+A+Pattern+of+Impunity&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=dRd5D3y0MD&sig=21zo7u1-1DLNxi8xJfyHxP2Dwr4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result The Human Rights Crisis in Kashmir: Patterns of Impunity]. "[[Human Rights Watch]]." 1993</ref> Over 125 civilians were killed in the conflagration, and when BSF forces opened fire on people fleeing their burning homes and businesses.<ref name=nyt>Gargan, Edward. |
'''The 1993 Lal Chowk fire''' (literally ''Red Square'') refers to the arson attack on the main commercial center of downtown [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir|Kashmir]] that took place on 10 April 1993. The fire was started by Indian [[Border Security Force]]s [BSF], apparently in retaliation for the burning of an abandoned BSF building by local residents.<ref name=hrw>[http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=X0QQx5ObGysC&dq=The+Human+Rights+Crisis+in+Kashmir:+A+Pattern+of+Impunity&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=dRd5D3y0MD&sig=21zo7u1-1DLNxi8xJfyHxP2Dwr4&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result The Human Rights Crisis in Kashmir: Patterns of Impunity]. "[[Human Rights Watch]]." 1993</ref> Over 125 civilians were killed in the conflagration, and when BSF forces opened fire on people fleeing their burning homes and businesses.<ref name=nyt>Gargan, Edward. Indian Troops Are Blamed As Kashmir Violence Rises. ''[[New York Times]].'' 18 April 1993.</ref> |
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==The fire== |
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According to the testimony of Jammu & Kashmir Police officers who were eyewitnesses to the attack, BSF troops started abandoning their bases within Lal Chowk at approximately 11:30 PM on 9 April 1993.<ref name=hrw/> On the morning of 10 April, the now abandoned bases were mined and set ablaze. As the fire continued to spread to neighboring homes and businesses, the area was declared to be under curfew. The curfew orders were announced by megaphone, and at least 100 BSF troops surrounded Lal Chowk and began to open fire at civilians fleeing the area.<ref name=hrw/> The police officers also testified that Indian troops prevented efforts to extinguish the fore, and in some cases, even sprayed the buildings with flammable liquids.<ref name=hrw/> |
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Survivor Vishad Kumar Chaurasia told the [[New York Times]] of his family's escape from their second story home: "We tried to escape, running down the stairs, me and my family. My mother and brother were in front of me. We went out on the street. Then a bullet came and hit my brother's head and hit my mother's face." Others testified to international human rights organizations that as they attempted to flee the burning buildings, they found that the doors had been bolted from the outside, and could not be opened from the inside.<ref name=hrw/> Jammu & Kashmir police officers reported BSF commanders forbade them from helping the trapped civilians escape, saying "let them burn."<ref name=hrw/> There are also reports of BSF troops opening fire on state police forces as they attempted to rescue trapped civilians.<ref name=hrw/> |
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==The shikara killings== |
==The shikara killings== |
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As the fire continued to spread through Lal Chowk, a number of locals attempted to escape the flames by fleeing across the [[Jhelum River]] in 'shikara' boats. According to eyewitnesses, 20-30 |
As the fire continued to spread through Lal Chowk, a number of locals attempted to escape the flames by fleeing across the [[Jhelum River]] in 'shikara' boats. According to eyewitnesses, 20-30 BSF troops gathered on the river bank and opened fire won the boats with machine guns.<ref name=hrw/><ref name=nyt/> Some of those on board jumped into the river to escape the firing, only to drown.<ref name=hrw/> The gunfire continued for at least 30 minutes<ref name=hrw/>, and at least 16 bodies were later recovered from the river.<ref name=nyt/> |
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Indian authorities later claimed that "a shikara boat which was on its way from Lal Chowk to Lal Mandi carrying a large number of persons capsized in the river Jhelum." There was no official government investigation into the incident.<ref name=hrw/> |
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==The aftermath== |
==The aftermath== |
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Revision as of 20:16, 3 February 2011
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The 1993 Lal Chowk fire (literally Red Square) refers to the arson attack on the main commercial center of downtown Srinagar, Kashmir that took place on 10 April 1993. The fire was started by Indian Border Security Forces [BSF], apparently in retaliation for the burning of an abandoned BSF building by local residents.[1] Over 125 civilians were killed in the conflagration, and when BSF forces opened fire on people fleeing their burning homes and businesses.[2]
The fire
According to the testimony of Jammu & Kashmir Police officers who were eyewitnesses to the attack, BSF troops started abandoning their bases within Lal Chowk at approximately 11:30 PM on 9 April 1993.[1] On the morning of 10 April, the now abandoned bases were mined and set ablaze. As the fire continued to spread to neighboring homes and businesses, the area was declared to be under curfew. The curfew orders were announced by megaphone, and at least 100 BSF troops surrounded Lal Chowk and began to open fire at civilians fleeing the area.[1] The police officers also testified that Indian troops prevented efforts to extinguish the fore, and in some cases, even sprayed the buildings with flammable liquids.[1]
Survivor Vishad Kumar Chaurasia told the New York Times of his family's escape from their second story home: "We tried to escape, running down the stairs, me and my family. My mother and brother were in front of me. We went out on the street. Then a bullet came and hit my brother's head and hit my mother's face." Others testified to international human rights organizations that as they attempted to flee the burning buildings, they found that the doors had been bolted from the outside, and could not be opened from the inside.[1] Jammu & Kashmir police officers reported BSF commanders forbade them from helping the trapped civilians escape, saying "let them burn."[1] There are also reports of BSF troops opening fire on state police forces as they attempted to rescue trapped civilians.[1]
The shikara killings
As the fire continued to spread through Lal Chowk, a number of locals attempted to escape the flames by fleeing across the Jhelum River in 'shikara' boats. According to eyewitnesses, 20-30 BSF troops gathered on the river bank and opened fire won the boats with machine guns.[1][2] Some of those on board jumped into the river to escape the firing, only to drown.[1] The gunfire continued for at least 30 minutes[1], and at least 16 bodies were later recovered from the river.[2]
Indian authorities later claimed that "a shikara boat which was on its way from Lal Chowk to Lal Mandi carrying a large number of persons capsized in the river Jhelum." There was no official government investigation into the incident.[1]
The aftermath
In all, 59 homes, 190 small shops, 59 stores where inventory was kept, two office buildings, five commercial buildings, two schools, and a shrine were destroyed in the blaze.[1] An estimated 125 people were killed.[2]
References