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.
The ruling NC, opposition PDP and Apni Party had announced plans to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib in the old city.
The NC and other parties had 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.
Police advised the public 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 police warned.
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 abrogation of Article 370, 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,” he said
She expressed concern over what she described as an attempt to erase the legacy of the martyrs:
The political parties had also been demanding restoration of gazetted holiday on July 13.