J&K admin denies permission for ‘Martyrs’ Day’ gathering in old Srinagar

SRINAGAR — The District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants seeking to visit Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta in old Srinagar on Martyrs’ Day, observed on July 13.

Several mainstream political leaders had announced plans to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib in the old city. Among them, the ruling National Conference (NC) had formally written to the Srinagar administration requesting a time slot to hold the July 13 Martyrs’ Day function.

“The District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on 13th July 2025 (Sunday),” Srinagar Police said in a post on X.

“The General Public is hereby advised to strictly comply with these instructions and refrain from violating the orders issued by District Administration. Any violation of these orders shall invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law.”

The law and order comes directly under the control of J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

July 13 is remembered as the day 22 Kashmiris were shot dead outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931 during protests against Maharaja Hari Singh, the then Dogra monarch of Jammu and Kashmir. The day was previously a gazetted holiday, observed officially by the State government until the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Before the constitutional changes in August 2019, top government officials, including the Governor and the Chief Minister, would join political leaders in paying floral tributes at the graveyard.

However, post the abrogation of Article 370, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, now headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, removed Martyrs’ Day from the official holiday calendar and has disallowed any official function at the graveyard.

Anticipating movement restrictions on the day, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti visited the graveyard today to offer tributes.

In a social media post, Iltija—daughter of PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti—wrote, “Knowing that tomorrow we’d be prevented from moving out, managed to pay tributes to our martyrs who laid down their lives on 13th July 1931 for democracy.”

She further expressed concern over what she described as an attempt to erase the legacy of the martyrs:

“Their memory is being wilfully erased yet their voices echo in every Kashmiri’s heart that refuses to bow & dares to hope.”

Over the past few days, the political temperatures have been rising over ‘Martyrs’ Day’.

Kashmir’s chief cleric and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who had announced plans to visit the graveyard, today said that he continues to be under house arrest.

“Since the time of Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, it had been the tradition to honour these martyrs by taking out a peaceful procession to the Martyrs’ Graveyard under his leadership, where people would pay homage to them and renew their commitment to carry forward the ideals for which they laid down their lives,” Mirwaiz said in a statement.

“However, in recent years, due to the restrictions imposed by the ruling authorities, such commemorative gatherings have not been possible, which is very sad and extremely regrettable.”

Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajjad Lone also joined the chorus, demanding the restoration of July 13 as an official public holiday.

“The memory of the July 13 martyrs is both cherished and sacred. Denying a day of remembrance will neither erase their memory nor diminish the sacrifices they made,” he said in a statement.