Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over are observing Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, today, as the day of reaffirmation of the pledge that they will continue the mission of their martyrs till the achievement of the inalienable right to self-determination.
Call for the observance of the day has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. The JRL has also called for a march towards Naqashband Sahib in Srinagar where martyrs of 1931 are buried to pay tributes to the martyrs.
The day is being marked by complete shutdown in occupied Kashmir where all shops and business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road.
Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have imposed restrictions in Srinagar and other major towns by deploying Indian troops and police personnel in strength to prevent people from conducting the march. The authorities have also put Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Zafar Akbar Butt and Umar Aadil Dar under house arrest or in custody to prevent them from leading the march.
On this day (13th July) in 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 Zuhar 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 Azan a total of 22 Kashmiris were martyred, one after the other. This carnage is the blackest chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
