Bijbehara Massacre: 33 years on, families continue to seek justice for victims

Thirty-three years after the Bijbehara massacre of October 22, 1993, the families of those killed during firing by India's

Thirty-three years after the Bijbehara massacre of October 22, 1993, the families of those killed during firing by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in Indian-administered Kashmir continue to demand justice, accountability and recognition for their loved ones.

The incident remains one of the most painful episodes in the region’s history, with questions surrounding the killings and the subsequent legal proceedings continuing to draw attention to the issue of accountability.

On October 22, 1993, between 10,000 and 15,000 demonstrators reportedly marched from Jamia Masjid in Bijbehara, located in Anantnag district, towards the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway after Friday prayers. The protesters were demonstrating against the siege of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, where people had reportedly taken refuge since mid-October.

According to accounts of the incident, personnel of the 74th Battalion of the BSF, operating under Deputy Commandant J.K. Radola, opened fire on the demonstrators at Gooriwan, reportedly surrounding them from three directions.

The firing resulted in numerous casualties. Amnesty International documented at least 51 deaths and more than 200 injuries, while other local accounts and subsequent estimates placed the death toll between 40 and 43. Among those reportedly killed were 25 students, many of whom were teenagers.

The victims included Afroz Ahmad Zargar, aged 12; Muhammad Ashraf Zargar, 14; Altaf Hussain Sheikh, 15; Abdul Rashid Vaid, 17; and Javed Ahmad Waza, 18.

Accounts of the tragedy describe scenes of devastation along the highway, where bodies reportedly lay as people attempted to escape the gunfire. Ghulam Qadir Rah was among the survivors reported to have crawled through the scene.

Inquiry and Questions of Accountability

A magisterial inquiry, reportedly registered under reference EN/BFC/93/23-24, described the firing as “absolutely unprovoked” and “deliberate and well-planned,” according to accounts of its findings.

Thirteen BSF personnel were reportedly charged in connection with the incident. However, all were subsequently acquitted, leaving families of the victims continuing to seek accountability for the killings.

The Mazar-e-Shuhada in Bijbehara remains a memorial to those who lost their lives. Commemorations of the massacre continue to bring attention to the victims and the unresolved demands of their families.

Wider Human Rights Concerns in Kashmir

The Bijbehara killings are frequently discussed within the broader context of allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir since 1989. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have documented concerns involving alleged extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths and enforced disappearances.

OHCHR reports published in 2018 and 2019 highlighted allegations of unlawful killings and obstacles to accountability, including concerns surrounding the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Kashmiri rights groups have estimated that more than 96,000 people have died since the uprising began, while estimates of enforced disappearances have ranged from 8,000 to 10,000. These figures are attributed to rights groups and remain subject to differences in methodology and documentation.

Reports of custodial deaths and alleged staged encounters have continued to feature in human rights discussions since 2019.

For the families of Bijbehara’s victims, the passage of more than three decades has not ended their demand for justice. The massacre remains a reminder of the importance of impartial investigations, accountability and protection of civilians amid continuing human rights concerns in Kashmir.