Srinagar, Posters have surfaced across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling on the people to pay homage to the victims of the Gaw Kadal, Handwara, and Kupwara massacres and to observe India’s Republic Day on January 26th as a Black Day.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the posters serve as a grim reminder of the tragic events that occurred in the region. On January 21, 1990, over 50 innocent people were killed by Indian forces in the Gaw Kadal area of Srinagar during a peaceful demonstration against the molestation of several women by the troops. Similarly, on January 25, 1990, Indian troops killed at least 21 Kashmiris in Handwara town, and on January 27, 1994, 27 civilians were massacred in Kupwara town by Indian forces as a punitive measure for observing a shutdown on India’s Republic Day.

The posters, displayed on pillars, poles, and walls throughout the territory, also urge the people of IIOJK to mark India’s Republic Day as a Black Day. This is intended to protest the forcible occupation of their land by India and to signify their rejection of India’s illegal control over the region. The posters label the celebration of Indian Republic Day in IIOJK as a cruel joke, highlighting the ongoing resistance to Indian occupation.

Additionally, these posters, which are also being circulated on social media, call for special prayers for the martyrs on the anniversaries of these massacres, as a way to honor their memory and the ongoing struggle in Kashmir.

The emergence of these posters is a powerful expression of the sentiment in IIOJK and reflects the enduring strife and desire for recognition and justice among the Kashmiri people.