The "Sopore Massacre" refers to the killing of 55 Kashmiri civilians by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol,[1] in the town of Sopore in Kashmir on 6 January 1993.[2]
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Sopore is a major town in Kashmir within the Baramulla District. It is 50 km (31 mi) north-west from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Mainly known for its apples, Sopore has been a major trading center in Kashmir. Iqbal market is the main market of the town. Eight km (5 miles) from Sopore is the famed Wular lake, the largest fresh water lake in Asia.
On the morning of January 6, 1993 when a group of 7-8 armed JKLF militants attacked a platoon of Border Security Force soldiers at Baba Yousuf Lane near Sopore and killing at least one.[2][3] It was after this point that security forces went on a rampage and proceeded to indiscriminately fire at local residents and set fire to local homes and businesses.[1] Witnesses claim that BSF soldiers attacked a public coach killing the driver and at least 15 passengers as well as attacking and burning three other cars. Some residents were burnt alive as security forces set fire to their homes and businesses.[2] In all, official Indian Government reports state that 250 shops and 50 homes were burnt down although Kashmiri sources claim as many as 450 buildings were burnt down.[1]
The Indian Government initially claimed that the high civilian casualties were the result of an intense gun battle between the BSF soldiers and militants in which an explosives cache belonging to the militants exploded and spread the fire to nearby buildings.[1][2] However, the government was later prompted to initiate a judicial inquiry into the matter and was also forced to suspend several BSF officers due to the widespread publicity that the incident had generated.[2] By November 1994, no details regarding the judicial investigation had been made public. Criticism was also leveled against the Indian Government by Human Rights Groups who argued that because the investigation was conducted in Delhi, some 916 km (569 mi) away, it was difficult for many witnesses to testify. Had the investigation been held in the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, which was only 35 km (22 mi) away, it would have allowed many more witnesses to present their arguments.[2]
One day after the massacre, thousands of Kashmiris defying a government-imposed curfew, protested against the actions of the BSF soldiers on the streets of Sopore.[3] The then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, ordered state governor Girish Saxena to visit Sopore and announced a compensation of £2,275 for the relatives of the deceased.[1] However, Muslim leaders, left-wing politicians and Human Rights organizations have criticized Saxena for failing to stop Human Rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir and demanded a parliamentary delegation be sent to assess the destruction.[1]