Jammu and Kashmir cops block Martyrs' Day events at graveyard
SRINAGAR: J&K police has announced that no one will be allowed to visit the graveyard of 'July 13 Martyrs' in Srinagar on Sunday, extending curbs that have been in place since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
The date is significant in Kashmir's history as 22 people were killed during an uprising against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh in 1931.
Chief minister
Omar Abdullah
, his father and governing National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, and former CM
Mehbooba Mufti
were expected to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada, the martyrs' resting place in Srinagar's Naqshband Sahib and pay floral tributes. Authorities have already placed Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest.
The Omar-led govt does not control police or security, whose reins are in the hands of the Centre-appointed lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha.
'District administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Nowhatta on 13th July, 2025 (Sunday). The general public is advised to strictly comply with these instructions. Any violation shall invite strict legal action,' J&K police said in a statement late Saturday evening.
NC reacted sharply to the curbs, with spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq calling them 'deeply unfortunate and fundamentally unjust' on a day of profound historical and emotional significance for people of J&K. 'We urge the administration to reflect on the gravity of this decision. No order can suppress memory. No restriction can erase the truth. The people of Kashmir will continue to honour their martyrs peacefully, with dignity, and with unwavering resolve,' Sadiq said.
NC had written to Srinagar's deputy commissioner on Thursday, seeking permission for Farooq's intended visit to the site. Apni Party had made a similar request.
Fearing they would be restricted from leaving home on Sunday, PDP functionary and ex-CM Mehbooba's daughter Iltija Mufti visited the graveyard on Saturday. 'I paid tributes to our martyrs who laid down their lives for democracy. Their memory is being wilfully erased.
Yet their voices echo in every Kashmiri's heart,' Iltija said.
In January 2020, nearly six months after the abrogation of Article 370, UT authorities had dropped July 13 and December 5 from the list of public holidays in J&K. December 5 was observed as the birth anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Since then, the authorities have barred official functions on July 13 at Mazar-e-Shuhada, detaining politicians, including former chief ministers, if necessary, to keep them away.
Earlier, it was tradition for CMs and top officials to pay tributes and offer a guard of honour at the graveyard.
While such restrictions had been clamped in the past few years, many had believed this year might be different as it was the first time since the revocation of J&K's special status under Article 370 that an elected government was in place in the Union territory. Eyes will be peeled on the Omar govt's response to the Sinha-led administration's move on Sunday.
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