To commemorate the 9th death anniversary of Asiya and Neelofar, the Southern Shopian district observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday.The call for shutdown was forwarded by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.Asiya and her sister -in-law Neelofar were allegedly raped and murdered by government forces on this day in 2009. Their bodies were retrieved from a local stream, Ranbi Ara.After an investigation led by Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, the case was handed over to India's premier investigating agency CBI.However, the agency, in its report, while ruling out the possibility of rape, had termed drowning as the cause of their death.The locals rejected the CBI report by calling it a tactic to hush up the matter. Massive protests had erupted in the district following the deaths.
Reports said that the district wore a deserted look while all shops and other business establishments remained closed and public transport also remained off the roads.Meanwhile, the family members of Asiya and Neelofar including the husband of Neelofar and brother of Asiya, Shakeel Ahmed staged a silent protest at Pratap Park Srinagar. The family was joined by separatist outfits including Muslim Khawateen Markaz led by Yasmeen Raja, Peoples Freedom League led by Imtiyaz Ahmed Shah, Democratic Freedom Front headed by Bashir Andrabi, Muslim Conference led by Shabir Ahmed Dar and others.The protesters displayed the banners and placards displaying the photographs of Asiya and Neelofar demanding stringent punishment for those who killed and raped them.While talking to CNS, the husband of Neelofar and the brother of Asiya, Shakeel Ahmed said that he will fight for justice till his last breath. He said that the sham inquiries conducted by Indian Government through CBI was aimed at to hoodwink the people. (CNS)