SRINAGAR:With a renewed pledge to carry on the mission of Kashmir martyrs to secure right to self-determination, Kashmiris are observing Kashmir Martyrs day to pay homage to freedom fighters who laid their lives way back in 1931 for the liberation of their subjugated land.
It was on July 31, the day deemed a milestone in the history of freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people, the troops of Dogra Maharaja had killed 22 freedom fighters in Srinagar.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian authorities have imposed curfew in Srinagar and Badgam and strict restrictions in all other parts of the occupied Kashmir to prevent a march towards Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar and protests against the rising incidents of killings.
The joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has given a call for the march and observance of the martyrs day.
The authorities have arrested dozens of Hurriyat activists and youth during nocturnal raids in different areas of the territory to prevent protests. Residents told the service over phone that they were not being allowed to move out of their houses.
The authorities have already put restrictions on movement of leaders – Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and others – to prevent them from leading the march and anti-India demonstrations.
It is pertinent to mention here that on this day in 1931, the troops of Dogra Maharaja had killed 22 Kashmiris outside Central Jail in Srinagar during court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer who had urged Kashmiri people to defy the Dogra rule.
Thousands of people had gathered outside the court to show their solidarity with Abdul Qadeer. The martyrs were laid to rest at the Martyrs’ Graveyard Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar.
