SRINAGAR: Leaders of mainstream political parties in the Valley have accused the government for imposing restrictions on Martyr’s Day to prevent leaders 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.

National Conference, according to news agency Kashmir Dot Com tweeted, “Despite the restrictions placed on JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah, which denied him security vehicles and ITBP cover, he chose to walk from his home to the Nawai Subh office. His purpose was to address the party workers who had gathered there to pay their heartfelt tributes to the 1931 Martyrs.”

Omar Abdulla, while tagging the twitter handle of Jammu and Kashmir police said “don’t think that refusing to give me my escort vehicles & ITBP cover will stop me. I’ll walk to where I have to get to & that’s exactly what I’m doing now.”

“Now that I’ve got to the office & will go ahead with my programme you will send everything. The fact is @JmuKmrPolice has stopped a lot of my senior colleagues from coming to the @JKNC_ office today by adopting the same tactics of stopping them in their homes. Notable amongst those stopped are Abdul Rahim Rather Sb, Ali Mohammad Sagar Sb, Ali Mohd Dar Sb and others, he said in another tweet.

Peoples Democratic Party president and former Chief Minister of erstwhile state, Mehbooba Mufti was also barred by authorities to pay homage to 1931 Martyrs.

PDP said “President Mehbooba Mufti has been put under house arrest & curbs imposed on the movement of senior leaders. Sad the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for democracy are being dishonoured. Vehemently condemn the action of admin preventing us from commemorating the martyr's.”

Peoples Conference while taking on twitter said “Disturbed by the authorities' decision to restrict the JKPC Provincial President Kashmir Khurshid Alam movement from paying homage to the martyrs of Kashmir at Mazhar-e-Shohada in Khanyar today.”

Alam stated that it is unfortunate that he along with other leaders of the party were unjustly detained and denied the opportunity to lead a peaceful gathering of party leaders and workers to offer prayers and pay tributes to the martyrs at Manzar-e-Shohda.

“This restriction on our peaceful assembly is deeply concerning and infringes upon our right to commemorate the martyrs. Despite this setback, our determination remains unwavering. We shall continue to honor and remember the martyrs in our hearts and work towards achieving their vision of a just and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir”, he concluded.

For the fourth consecutive year, no function was held to commemorate the Martyrs' Day in Kashmir to pay homage to 22 Kashmiri people who were killed by the army of a Dogra ruler on this day in 1931, officials said on Wednesday.

July 13 was a public holiday in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and a grand official function was held every year on this day where the chief minister or the governor would be the chief guest.

However, the administration dropped the day from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020, after the abrogation of Article 370 and splitting of the erstwhile state into two union territories by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

No function was held at the Martyrs' graveyard in the city while no holiday was observed for the third time on Thursday. Apart from the official function at the Martyrs' graveyard, mainstream political leaders also used to visit it to pay homage to the 22 Kashmiris who fell to the bullets of the Dogra army while protesting the autocratic rule of Maharaja Hari Singh.

However, the officials said, this year no mainstream political leader visited the graveyard. They added that there were no restrictions on the movement of people. (KDC)

SRINAGAR:  (AAC) paid rich tributes to the Martyrs of July 13, 1931 on their 92nd  martyrdom anniversary.

Recalling the gruesome event and the subsequent martyrdom of 22 innocent people, AAC said that since its inception in 1963 and before that when Muslim Conference was formed, the party has been commemorating this day, under the leadership of Mohajir -e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Yousuf Shah and then under Shaheed -e- Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq as youm -e -shuhada -e- Kashmir (Martyrs day) and since then under the chairmanship of its detained leader Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq.

“This day was the watershed moment in the contemporary history of J&K when 22 Kashmiris were killed in cold blood by the rulers of the day leading to the launch of political agitation by the people of Kashmir for their empowerment through realization of their political rights and aspirations.”

ACC said that every year the party and the people of J&K remember the sacrifices of these martyrs and renew their commitment to the realization of what these martyrs laid down their precious life for.

"This year, unfortunately, due to the continued house detention of Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq since August 2019 by the authorities, he will once again not be able to lead the party’s customary march to the Martyrs Graveyard and the subsequent rally there, to pay tributes to the 13th July 1931 Marty's and offer Fatiha for them.”

However, AAC requests people to offer Fatiha prayers for the martyrs and pay homage to them.

On this occasion, AAC once again reiterated its demand for the release of all political prisoners, including Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir who will complete four years of house detention next month. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: Fire Service Day was observed in Srinagar to pay homage to those martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir who have attended emergencies in great odds and sacrificed their precious lives while fighting fires.

In this regard a function was observed at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters Batamaloo Srinagar. April 14 is observed as "National Fire Service Day". “Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the Martyrs and wreaths were laid on the Martyr's Column as mark of respect to the brave fire fighters,” according to a statement issued by the department to GNS.

Bashir Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Fire & Emergency Services Kashmir Range Srinagar, presided over the function.

He briefed the officers and personnel of the services and stressed upon them that they shall never show their back to fire and they should always be prepared to even sacrifice their lives for saving the precious lives and property of people as the motto of “our services which is "We Serve To Save".”

Such functions were also organized at all District Headquarters of the J&K and at Station Level, the statement said. Fire Service week will be observed throughout the J&K from April 14 to 20.

This year’s theme is "Awareness in Fire Safety for growth of National Infrastructure (AGNI)". (GNS)