Martyrs’ graveyard sealed in Srinagar as July 13 tribute marches foiled

Heavy security, barricades and restrictions marked the observance of July 13 in Srinagar on Monday as the administration sealed the Martyrs’ Graveyard, drawing sharp criticism from National Conference, PDP and other leaders who alleged they were prevented from paying homage to the martyrs of 13 July 1931.

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.

Armoured vehicles were also stationed on approach roads to prevent any attempt by political parties to march to the graveyard, reports said.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo in a post on X said that she was stopped from paying tributes to the martyrs.

She wrote “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.”

“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.

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.

 PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged on Sunday that she and her mother, Mehbooba Mufti, had been placed under house arrest. “We have been placed under house arrest on the eve of Martyrs Day for reasons best known to JK Police,” Iltija posted on X.

“This is the normalcy they claim to have established in Kashmir? Make no mistake, the local government too is hand in glove using police in Sidhra to demolish homes & place opponents in detention when convenient,” she said and further live-streamed the barricading of the entrance to their home in the Khimber area on the outskirts of Srinagar.