by Jehangir Ali
Srinagar: Authorities foiled the plans of Kashmir-based political parties to commemorate Martyrs’ Day by sealing the historic Sufi shrine of Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi in Srinagar on Saturday (12 July). The site houses the graves of Kashmiri protesters who were killed by the Dogra army in 1931.
In an advisory posted on X, Jammu and Kashmir police, without citing any reason, said that the applications from the political parties who had sought permission to commemorate the Martyrs’ Day on Sunday (13 July) have been turned down by the authorities.
Earlier this week, the ruling National Conference, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and other political outfits had sought permission to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard or Mazhar-e-Shuhada located in downtown Srinagar’s Khawaja Bazar where the 22 victims are buried.
Moderate Hurriyat chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continued to remain under house arrest for the second consecutive day on Saturday, had planned to lead a procession from Jamia Masjid to the graveyard on Sunday.
However, the police advisory on Saturday evening warned: “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”.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
