Says ‘Physical barriers cannot prevent us from honouring supreme sacrifices of our martyrs’
NewsEye Desk
Srinagar, July 13: Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Monday said she was prevented from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar early morning to pay tributes to the martyrs of July 13, amid heavy deployment of security forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graveyard.
In a post on X, Itoo said she attempted to visit the martyrs’ graveyard at 4:30 am along with Provincial President of the JKNC Women’s Wing Sabiya Qadri but was not allowed to enter.
“I tried to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM today to pay my humble tributes to our martyrs of 13th July. However, due to the heavy deployment of security forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering,” she said.
“Physical barriers cannot prevent us from honouring the supreme sacrifices of our martyrs. Their memory, courage, and legacy will forever remain alive in our hearts. We will continue to pay our tributes with dignity and unwavering respect,” Itoo added.
Her remarks came as restrictions were imposed on political activities related to the July 13 commemoration in Srinagar, with the administration denying permission for planned marches to Mazar-e-Shuhada at Khawaja Bazaar, citing law and order concerns.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is instead scheduled to hold a tribute event at its party headquarters, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija Mufti have said they were placed under house arrest.
July 13 commemorates the killing of 22 Kashmiris who were shot dead by the forces of the then Dogra ruler outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931 during protests against the autocratic rule.
The day was observed as an official holiday in Jammu and Kashmir until 2019, before it was removed from the official holiday calendar following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.(NewsEye)
