Partial lockdown imposed in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 13: Authorities in Srinagar imposed a partial lockdown in Srinagar on Sunday, effectively barring political leaders and civilians from assembling at the historic Martyrs’ Graveyard at Khawaja Bazar in Srinagar downtown.

The measures coincided with the anniversary of the July 13, 1931, killings, an event long commemorated as Martyrs’ Day in the region.

The J&K Police, backed by personnel from the paramilitary CAPFs, sealed entry points to the area early in the morning.

Barricades, concertina wire, and mobile checkpoints were set up in parts of downtown Srinagar, particularly in Nowhatta, Rainawari, and Khanyar, to restrict movement and prevent public gatherings.

Multiple leaders from key regional parties, including the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Apni Party, claimed that they were placed under house arrest.

Among those confined were NC vice president Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, and several second-tier leaders who had planned to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard to pay homage.

“No permissions were granted for any kind of commemoration at the cemetery due to apprehensions over law and order,” officials said here.

On July 13, 1931, 22 Kashmiris were shot dead by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh outside the Srinagar Central Jail while protesting the autocratic rule.

The slain protesters were later buried at the graveyard in Khawaja Bazaar, which went on to become a symbol of resistance and political consciousness in Kashmir.

For nearly nine decades until 2019, July 13 was observed as an official public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, with state-sponsored events and floral tributes at the graveyard.

However, following the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of the region’s special constitutional status in August 2019, the newly formed Union Territory administration removed the date from the official list of holidays.

Political parties in Kashmir, particularly the NC and PDP, have persistently demanded the reinstatement of July 13 as Kashmir Martyrs’ Day.

While the day holds deep emotional significance for many Kashmiri Muslims, some Kashmiri Pandit groups have historically observed July 13 as a ‘Black Day,’ citing communal violence in the aftermath of the 1931 uprising.

This divergence has contributed to the highly contested nature of the anniversary and its evolving place in Kashmir’s socio-political landscape.

Observers see the continued restrictions as part of a broader effort by the Centre to reframe Kashmir’s historical narrative post-2019, aligning it more closely with a nationalistic discourse and distancing it from its distinct regional legacy.