Srinagar, July 12: Kashmir Valley is observing Martyrs Day on Friday to pay tributes to 22 people killed while protesting against autocratic rule on July 13, 1931.
While chairmen of Hurriyat Conference factions, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have called for parallel marches to Martyrs Graveyard at Naqshband Sahab (RA) shrine here, authorities have decided to impose strict restrictions on people’s movement, especially in downtown.
The Government has decided to impose Section 144 in parts of Srinagar and restrictions in old Srinagar to foil the march of separatist leaders towards martyrs’ graveyard.
Sources in police said that directions have been passed to impose restrictions and put the separatist leaders under house arrest. Veteran pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has appealed people to march towards Naqshband Sahab shrine for offering prayers and paying tributes to the martyrs of 1931. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also called a protest march towards the martyrs’ graveyard.
“If the people are allowed to visit Naqshband Sahab it might lead to law and order problem,” a senior police officer in Srinagar said. “We have decided to impose Section 144 in Srinagar city and restrictions in old city,” he said.
The police officer said additional contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would be deployed in all major towns of the Valley to thwart any protest demonstration.
“We have inputs that some miscreants may try to disrupt peace in the city on July 13, and have decided to impose restrictions”, said Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar while speaking to KNS. However, the DGP said curfew will not be imposed in any city area.
“We have taken steps to prevent the designs of certain miscreants and we won’t allow such attempts to succeed”, he said. “So restrictions will be placed in different city areas as a preventive measure”, he added.
The DGP said police has taken all necessary steps to prevent any law and order problem.
When asked whether the separatist leadership will be placed under house arrest, the DGP said “Police won’t allow disruptions to occur and further steps will be taken by the district administration.” The DGP appealed people help in maintenance of peace and tranquility in the Valley.
Meanwhile, in his message on Martyrs Day, Governor NN Vohra observed that Jammu and Kashmir has been known for its glorious pluralistic ethos, amity and brotherhood, and urged the people to work towards restoring the pristine glory of the state as an abode of peace and harmony.
Vohra said sustained peace and normalcy are essential pre-requisites for achieving progress and prosperity and called upon one and all to rededicate themselves to make Jammu and Kashmir a frontline state in the country.
The chief minister Omar Abdullah, while paying glowing tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, described them heroes of the struggle against suppression and totalitarianism.
In a message on the eve of Martyrs’ Day, the chief minister said the sacrifice of the martyrs to free the society from autocracy and lay edifice for democracy and human dignity is one of the richest chapters of the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The best way to pay homage to the martyrs is to help create equitable and palatable environment for everyone to grow and nurture in a democratic atmosphere. Let all of us join hands to develop a society based on justice and principals of secular democratic temperament”, he said adding that “tolerance and respect for each others’ viewpoints whether we agree to these or not is the soul of democracy”. He said the martyrs of 13th July laid their lives to uphold this principal of natural justice and democracy. He prayed for peace and tranquility in the state.
The National Conference (NC) president and union minister Dr Farooq Abdullah while paying tributes to the martyrs said that their sacrifices would always be remembered.
In his message, Dr Farooq said their struggle sowed the seeds of democracy, which was now in full bloom in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that biggest tribute to the martyrs would be to follow their agenda of peace, prosperity of the state. He said their struggle strengthened democratic institutions in the state and it is because of their struggle and sacrifices that people are enjoying the freedom of expression.
The Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and president Mehbooba Mufti said the best tribute to the martyrs of 13th July 1931 would be to create circumstances for resolution of Kashmir so that no more loss of life is caused.
In a joint statement today, the duo said the party had a clear vision of how to achieve the goals of democratic self rule, economic self reliance and social growth in Jammu and Kashmir. They said the martyrs had risen up against a system that sustained itself on exploitation and denial of democratic rights. “The PDP recognizes their great sacrifice and pays glorious tributes to them not only through speeches but by actually working on the ground for a permanent and dignified resolution of Kashmir problem.”
Paying tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, the  State Secretary, CPI (M) and MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami called for shunning narrow political considerations to workout commonalties for building up a sound pluralistic and democratic society so that cherished dream of the martyrs is accomplished.
In a statement issued here today to pay tributes to the martyrs, Tarigami said the State, by virtue of supreme sacrifices offered by the martyrs, has made significant strides including landmark Agrarian Reforms, but much more is needed to be done to accomplish their (martyrs) mission.
 “The dream of martyrs will remain un-accomplished until people’s empowerment is ensured to make them masters of their destiny, the fact which is the priority concern for all even today”, Tarigami said.
Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference president, Begum Khalidah Shah, while paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of 13 July, 1931, said the event marked the first revolt against the centuries old autocratic rule. “By offering the supreme sacrifice, several Kashmiri youth laid the foundation of the freedom struggle and paved the way for taking it to its logical end,” she said.
Paying rich tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, the Peoples’ Democratic Front president and MLA Khan Sahab Hakim Yaseen described them as everlasting model of Kashmiris’ courage and determination. He said, “The supreme sacrifices offered by these martyrs have been from the day first exploited by the vested interests.”
Hakim said, “The best tribute to these martyrs is to maintain unity among our ranks and take their mission to its logical end.”
The Jamiat-e-Hamdaniya patron Mirwaiz Kashmir Moulana Riyaz Ahmad Hamdani, while paying rich tributes to July 13, 1931 martyrs, said they offered supreme sacrifices of their life for honour, dignity and better future of Kashmiris.
The chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Freedom League, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, while paying glowing tributes to the Kashmiri martyrs of July 13, 1931, described the day as a milestone in Kashmiris’ freedom struggle.
Rehmani, according to League statement issued here today, said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have rendered unprecedented sacrifices since long for their birth right-- the right of self-determination.”
Rehmani urged the people to rekindle and radiate the fervour and spirit of 1930s across the state and give new political direction to their cause through retrospective political wisdom. He said political leadership of the past 20 years should be selfless and honest to grasp why and how Kashmir suffered setback despite great sacrifices on different fronts. “Why the enthusiastic support which it received in early 1990s receded and faded away, and accusations of hypocrisy and corruption became common in social, religious and political activities, he said, adding that  “today, after 81 years of freedom struggle we stand nowhere as a nation. Empty rhetoric can’t salvage our jolting ship in storm. We should rejuvenate the rank and file by a right direction and strategy, not rely upon utopian slogans, but devise practical measures to translate our dream into a reality and urge the world to support us in regaining our lost historical identity.”
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (R) chairman Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bita Karatey said the supreme sacrifices of martyrs were an invaluable asset of the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. He said the martyrs have offered the sacrifices of their life for the freedom of their homeland and not for any individual or group. “It does not behove the Hurriyat Conference leaders to discriminate between the martyrs,” he said, in a statement today.
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, the chairman of Democratic Political Movement Firdous Ahmad Shah and general secretary, in a joint statement today, said the best tributes to these martyrs was to take their unaccomplished mission to its logical end. They have supported the Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s programme on July 13.
The chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ League Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori has also paid glowing tributes to the martyrs, reiterating his pledge to take their mission to its logical end. He appealed to the people to observe complete shutdown on July 13, to mark the martyrdom day.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST