SRINAGAR (KIMS) — Authorities in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, imposed restrictions and denied permission to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Nowhatta on the anniversary of July 13.
In a post on X, Srinagar Police said the district administration has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta, on Sunday (July 13, 2025).
“Any violation of these orders shall invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law,” the post added.
Reports said roads leading to the Martyrs’ Graveyard were sealed, with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces across the city.
Meanwhile, National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said he, along with party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and several MLAs, has been placed under house arrest.
“Since last night, I—like many of my colleagues—have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it’s a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13,” Sadiq posted on X.
“Such actions are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and show a troubling disregard for history,” he added.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also criticized the restrictions. In a post on X, she said, “The day you accept our heroes as your own—just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh—that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the ‘dil ki doori’ (distance of hearts) will truly end.”
“When you lay siege to the Martyrs’ Graveyard and lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13 commemorates martyrs who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always remain our heroes,” she added.
Reacting to the house arrests, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the move “blatantly undemocratic.”
“In a blatantly undemocratic move, homes have been locked from the outside, police and central forces deployed as jailers, and major bridges in Srinagar blocked—all to stop people from visiting a historically important graveyard where those who gave Kashmiris a voice lie buried,” Omar posted on X.
Calling the July 13 massacre “our Jallianwala Bagh,” he said, “Those who laid down their lives did so against British rule. It’s a shame that true heroes who fought against British paramountcy are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today, but we will never forget their sacrifices.”
Since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—in 2019 by the Government of India, July 13 was removed from the official holiday list.
Since then, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has consistently imposed restrictions on Martyrs’ Day, sealing roads leading to the graveyard, denying political parties permission to hold commemorations, and deploying heavy security across Srinagar to prevent public gatherings.
July 13 Martyrs’ Day is observed in Jammu and Kashmir to commemorate the 22 Kashmiri Muslims who were killed by the forces of the Dogra ruler in 1931 outside the Central Jail in Srinagar. They were protesting against autocratic rule and demanding freedom of speech and an end to oppressive laws.
The day is seen as a symbol of resistance against tyranny and is marked every year by political parties and citizens paying homage at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Nowhatta. — (KIMS)