Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have thwarted attempts by locals to march towards Mazar-e-Shuhada at Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar, where the martyrs of July 13 are interred.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the day marks a significant moment in 1931 when 22 Kashmiris were killed by Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh’s forces during a peaceful protest. These individuals were killed as they attempted to complete the Azan, the Muslim call to prayer, outside the Central Jail in Srinagar.
In response to this year’s commemoration, Indian forces were heavily deployed around the area to prevent gatherings. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference had called for a strike and a march to the Martyrs’ Graveyard, which were both disrupted by local authorities. Prominent local leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were also barred from visiting the site, sparking significant criticism and accusations of oppression by the administration.