Authorities on Monday barricaded a Srinagar graveyard holding the remains of 22 civilians killed in the 1931 uprising against the Dogra monarchy and reportedly blocked leaders of Jammu and Kashmir parties from entering. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the steps contradicted official assertions of normal conditions in the region.
Senior National Conference leader and minister Sakina Itoo tried to reach the site, known locally as Mazar-e-Shuhada at Naqshband Sahib Shrine, around 4:30 a.m. in a burqa to avoid detection. Heavy security deployment and barbed wire prevented her entry. She said physical barriers could not stop honouring the martyrs sacrifices, whose memory would remain alive.
Security forces had sealed parts of Srinagar old city since Sunday and added personnel to limit movement. Abdullah criticised the measures as excessive and questioned claims of normalcy, noting the national highway closure during the Amarnath yatra and uncertainty over prevailing calm. He added that only a small gathering was expected yet restrictions were imposed.
Without naming individuals, Abdullah described those enforcing the curbs as temporary and said the graves would remain for future tributes. He rejected any religious framing of the 1931 events, describing them as a fight against British rule, monarchy and for democracy, and urged officials to study history.
On a defamation notice from state BJP chief Sat Paul Sharma over claims of an NC split attempt, Abdullah called it typical of the party approach of shifting political disputes to courts and said his side would issue notices in response.
The Centre revoked J&K special status in 2019 and the Lieutenant Governor later removed July 13 as an official holiday.
The Peoples Democratic Party also reported denial of access and house arrests for its leaders. President Mehbooba Mufti paid tributes at party headquarters, calling the martyrs heroes comparable to national figures and criticising attempts to portray the events along communal lines.
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was placed under house arrest and that roads to the graveyard and Jama Masjid were blocked, preventing homage to those who laid foundations for human rights struggles 95 years earlier.
