Officials, Politicians Pay Tributes To Martyrs At Martyrs Graveyard Srinagar
KNZ NEWS DESK
Srinagar, July 13: : Authorities on Saturday imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and placed Hurriyat Conference chairmen under house arrest in wake of Martyrs Day, while as a complete shutdown was observed in the Valley to mark the day.
As the morning broke, heavy contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF men sealed all the entry points to the city by erecting barricades and concertina wire on the roads to restrict the movement of people, .
On July 13, 1931, 22 Kashmiris were gunned down by the army of autocratic Dogra ruler after the people rose against Maharaja’s rule for their rights.
The Governor’s administration deputed advisor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan to pay floral tributes to martyrs at the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqashband Sahib here early Saturday morning.
ADGP, Armed, S. J. M. Gillani, ADGP, Law and Order, Muneer Ahmad Khan, IGP Kashmir S P Pani, DIG CKR, V. K. Birdie, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, SSP Srinagar, Dr. Haseeb Mughal, Commandant JKAP 9th Battalion, Manzoor Dalal, besides other senior officers of the district and divisional administration were also present on the occasion.
A contingent of J&K Police posted the bugle and presented the ceremonial guard-of-honour to the Martyrs.
Also National Conference president and parliamentarian Farooq Abdullah, party’s general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar besides Lok Sabha representative from Anantnag Hasnain Massodi and other senior leaders visited the graveyard and paid tributes to the martyrs. PDP senior leaders also visited the martyrs’ graveyard and paid tributes to the martyrs.
Governor Satya Pal Malik like his predecessor N N Vohra skipped the personal visit to the martyrs’ graveyard this morning as the state’s head did when the J&K was under governor’s rule on this day in 2008. The Governor Satya Pal Malik issued statement yesterday, calling for collective efforts from all sections of society to secure rapid growth and development of the State on all fronts.
In his message on the occasion of martyrs day, Governor “observed that Jammu and Kashmir has always been known for its glorious pluralistic ethos and harmony and emphasised the crucial importance of maintaining unity and brotherhood for ushering the State towards peace and prosperity.”
Barring the Bharatiya Janata Party, the entire spectrum of political ideologies in the state observes July 13 as martyrs day in J&K.
CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, President of Democratic Party Nationalist Ghulam Hassan Mir, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Front Hakeem Yaseen and President of Awami Ithad Party Er Rasheed also offered tributes to martyrs.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed all over the Valley to mark the anniversary of the 22 martyrs. Reports reaching GNS said that all commercial establishments including shops remained closed while traffic was also off the roads.
The strike call was given by joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and incarcerated Muhammad Yasin Malik. The authorities also imposed strict curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar parts and in other major towns of the Kashmir valley to thwart the protests. (GNS)
