Srinagar: Hurriyat leaders in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir paid solemn tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, emphasizing their role in sparking the ongoing freedom struggle against Dogra and subsequent Indian rule.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the leaders recalled the pivotal moment on July 13, 1931, when 22 Kashmiris were shot by the forces of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh outside the Central Jail in Srinagar, where a crowd had gathered for the court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer, who urged defiance against Dogra rule. The leaders highlighted that the sacrifice of these martyrs sowed the seeds of the liberation movement in Kashmir.

Hurriyat representatives, including Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Muhammad Saleem Zargar, and Syed Bashir Andrabi, stressed the enduring significance of the martyrs’ sacrifice in the collective memory and struggle of the Kashmiri people. They affirmed the community’s resolve to continue the fight for freedom, stressing that the sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris will not be in vain.

The leaders urged religious leaders and community members to honor the martyrs collectively on the upcoming anniversary, reinforcing their commitment to the Kashmiri identity and resistance against the Indian occupation and the rising tide of Hindutva influence in the region. They expressed confidence that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will eventually lead to their rightful self-determination and freedom.