Srinagar, 13 July: Officials sealed all the roads to the martyrs in the Novata area of Old City on Sunday, even at the ruling national conference, it was claimed that many of its leaders were kept under the arrest of the house.
Police and central paramilitary forces were deployed in strength at all entry points going to Srinagar city as there were apprehensions of law and order problems on the occasion of Martyr’s Day.
Officials said that only vehicles of officers and security forces were allowed to cross barricades installed at entry points.
The National Conference (Nekan) applied to the District Magistrate Srinagar, sought permission to pay tribute to the martyrs of July 13, 1931.
However, the district administration refused permission.
In a public advice posted on X, Srinagar Police said, “District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all the applicants wishing to move towards Khwaja Bazaar, Novata on July 13, 2025 (Sunday).”
Police said that the public is advised to follow these instructions and avoid violating orders issued by the district administration.
Police warned, “Any violation of these orders will invite strict legal action under the relevant provisions of the law.”
Nekan called the permission “deeply unfortunate”. NC chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said that July 13 is not a regular date.
Sadiq said on X, “It is a serious reminder of sacrifices made in the discovery of dignity, justice and rights.”
Sadiq further said that the people of Kashmir will continue “their martyrs” peacefully, with dignity, and unwavering resolutions.
On July 13 August 2019, there used to be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir before the reorganization of the erstwhile state in two center areas of the then state. However, the administration left the day from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020.
On that day, mainstream political leaders visited the “cemetery of martyrs” to pay tribute to Kashmiris, who fell on the Dogra Army bullets protesting against the Maharaja’s rule.
Meanwhile, in a new post on X, Sadiq claimed that many party leaders have been placed under the arrest of the house.
He said, “Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, in which the party leadership, the Chief Minister’s advisor, and most sitting MLAs have been locked inside my house,” he said.
He said that this is not only unfortunate, but is a deliberate attempt to stop and refuse the right to honor the martyrs of July 13.
He said, “Such tasks are not only unnecessary, they are inappropriate, deeply insensitive, and reveal a disturbing disregard for history,” he said