Heavy security, barricades and restrictions dominated Srinagar on Monday as the administration sealed the martyrs’ graveyard during the observance of July 13, prompting sharp criticism from the National Conference, PDP and other political leaders who alleged they were stopped from paying homage to the 1931 martyrs.
Reports said that police and paramilitary personnel set up barricades on roads leading to the martyrs’ graveyard at the Naqashband Sahib shrine in the downtown Nowhatta area of Srinagar. Security personnel equipped with anti-riot gear were deployed in strength to restrict public movement.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the authorities’ decision to prevent the ruling National Conference leaders from visiting the martyrs’ graveyard, saying the restrictions dishonoured those who fought for democracy and against the British and princely rule.
Led by the party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and chief minister Omar Abdullah, senior leaders of the National Conference gathered at the party office where they paid rich tributes to the martyrs. They said that the restrictions ordered by the BJP government will not deter the party from remembering and commemorating their eternal sacrifice.
Education Minister Sakina Itoo, in a post on X, said she was stopped from paying tributes to the martyrs at the graveyard. “I tried to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM today to pay my humble tributes to our martyrs of 13th July. However, due to the heavy deployment of security forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering. I was accompanied by the Provincial President of the JKNC Women’s Wing @sabiya_qadri Ji,” she wrote.
“Physical barriers cannot prevent us from honouring the supreme sacrifices of our martyrs. Their memory, courage, and legacy will forever remain alive in our hearts. We will continue to pay our tributes with dignity and unwavering respect”, she added.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who paid floral tributes to the martyrs in the party office, accused BJP of trying to communalise the 1931 Kashmir martyrs. She claimed she was put under house arrest to prevent her from going to the martyrs’ graveyard.
Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the restrictions and wrote on X; “With deep emotion and reverence we pay our respects and glorious tributes to our first Martyrs, who 95 years ago on this day, by their supreme sacrifice laid the foundation of the people’s struggle for justice, dignity and human rights. A struggle that continues”.
“It is painful and unfortunate that the people of Jammu Kashmir are prevented by force, from offering fatiha and paying homage to the martyrs, as all roads leading to Mazar-e-Shuhada, Naqshband Sahib, are blocked and barricaded and restrictions imposed around Jama Masjid Srinagar and I have once again been placed under house arrest. Graveyards may be sealed, roads blocked and people confined, the Martyrs live in our hearts, and our collective memory for all times”, Mirwaiz added.