Srinagar, July 12, 2019 (PPI-OT): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over will observe Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, tomorrow, to reaffirm the pledge to continue the mission of their martyrs till the achievement of the inalienable right to self-determination. The day will be marked by complete shutdown and a march towards Naqashband Sahib in Srinagar where martyrs of 1931 are buried. Call for the shutdown and march has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership.
On the 13th of July 1931, the troops of Dogra Maharaja had killed 22 Kashmiris, one after the other, outside Central Jail in Srinagar during the court proceedings against one Abdul Qadeer who had asked Kashmiri people to defy the Dogra rule. Thousands of people had gathered outside the court to show their solidarity with Abdul Qadeer. As the time for obligatory Zuhr prayers approached, one of the youth stood up and started reciting Azan. He was shot dead by the Dogra soldiers and next youth started the Azan where it was left by the martyred youth. He was also killed and in the process of completing the Azaan a total of 22 Kashmiris were martyred, one after the other.
The occupation authorities placed the Chairman of Hurriyat forum, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest, today, while the All Parties Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Gilani is already under house detention since 2010. As per schedule, the Mirwaiz has to lead a procession from Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid to the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqashband Sahib. The authorities also imposed restrictions in various parts of downtown Srinagar, today, by deploying Indian troops and police personnel in strength to forestall the march. Juma prayers could not be held today at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city due to restrictions.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in their statements said the best way to pay homage to these martyrs is to collectively fight against injustice, hegemony, autocracy, forcible occupation and armed aggression. Other Hurriyat leaders including Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Muhammad Iqbal Mir, Javaid Ahmed Mir, Zafar Akbar Butt, Imtiaz Reshi, Ghulam Nabi Wasim, Ghulam Nabi War, Abdul Samad Inqilabi, Democratic Freedom Party and the Chairman of United Jihad Council, Syed Salahuddin in their separate statements also paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of 13th July, 1931.
Meanwhile, traders, fruit growers and civil society members held a protest at Sopore Fruit Mandi, today, to demand revocation of the order restricting the movement of civilian vehicles on Srinagar-Jammu highway during the ongoing Amarnath yatra. The occupation authorities have slapped draconian law, Public Safety Act, for the third time on the illegally detained Chairman of Islami Tanzeem-e-Azadi, Abdul Samad Inqilabi.
On the other hand, the New York-based Human Rights Watch in a statement posted on its website said that India’s rejection of UN report on human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir showed that New Delhi was unwilling to confront its own human rights failures. The HRW’s South Asia Director, Meenakshi Ganguly, in the statement said the authorities should hold accountable those involved in the human rights abuses.
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