No function-official or unofficial- on July 13 martyrs’ day in Kashmir

Srinagar: There was no official or unofficial (political) function at “ Mazaar-e-Shoudah”, the
graveyard of 22 Kashmiris who were killed on this day in 1931 by police outside the central Jail, Srinagar, during Dogra rule.
Several regional political parties, including National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, to pay tributes to martyrs of July 13, 1931 today. However, the permission was denied as per political parties.
All roads leading to the martyrs’ graveyard at Khawaja Naqashband Sahib shrine in the downtown were blocked with barbed wire and bullet proof vehicles parked in the middle since late Monday night. Large number of paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been deployed to prevent assembly of people at the graveyard.
On this day in 1931, police during Dogra rule opened fire outside the Central Jail, Srinagar, on people who had gathered there to protest against the arrest of Abdul Qadeer Khan for challenging the autocratic rule. Case of Khan was being heard in the jail when firing took place outside.
Besides official function to pay homage to the martyrs, opposition parties have also been paying floral tributes at the graveyard. Governors, Chief Ministers, other ministers and Director General’s of police were also paying tributes to martyrs on this day every year since 1948. However, the official holiday and functions were discontinued after the reading down of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5, 2019.
Last year, no function was held due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

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