In Pictures: ‘Martyrs Day’ In Kashmir

Authorities have placed restrictions in parts of Srinagar on Martyr’s Day to prevent people from going to Mazar-e-Shohda where a function has been held every year since 1948 in memory of those who revolted against the Dogra rule on July 13, 1931.

PDP and NC said that they had sought permission to visit the graveyard to offer prayers but were not granted it

Last year, it was for the first time since 1948 that there was no holiday or any official function to commemorate martyrs’ day in Jammu and Kashmir. The gazetted holidays from last two years have no mention of martyrs’ day on July 13.

Following the revocation of Article 370 on August 5 last year amid massive security and communication clampdown, the government had issued a list of gazette holidays for the J&K. July 13 and December 5, birth day of Sheikh Mohammad Badullah, were omitted from the list.

The then prime minister of J&K, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had declared July 13 as martyrs’ day in memory of those who revolted against the Dogra rule on July 13, 1931. Twenty-two people were killed in the protest against the then Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.