Amid shutdown, authorities imposed strict restrictions in Downtown areas here to foil march of separatists to pay tributes to martyrs of July 31, 1931.
District administration imposed strict curbs in areasfalling under the jurisdiction of police station Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari,Safa Kadal and Mahraj Gunj.
Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, whowas supposed to take out a rally to pay tributes to martyrs of July 13, 1931,continued to remain under house detention.
The strike call given by the separatist leaders evoked goodresponse as all the commercial establishments and private institutions remainedclosed for the day. Traffic movement on roads was also less. Schools, collegesand Universities remained shut on account of official holiday to mark theMartyrs Day.
Reports said complete shutdown was observed in all thesouthern districts of Kashmir—Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. Shutdownwas also observed in northern districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora.Strike was observed in Central Kashmir’s Budgam and Ganderbal districts alsobesides Srinagar. However, inter-district transport services plied normally.
22 Kashmiris were killed on July 13, 1931 by Dogra forcesoutside Srinagar Central Jail. Since then, J&K observes this day as theMartyrs Day. Official holiday is also observed on July 13 every year.
Meanwhile in a statement, Hurriyat (M) said “it is extremely said that people and theseparatists were stopped from paying homage to martyrs of July 13, 1931.
It also condemned restrictions in majority of areas ofDowntown and placing the chairman of the amalgam Mirwaiz Umar Farooq underhouse arrest.
“Martyrs of July 13, 1931, laid down their lives for agreat cause of standing against the then autocratic Dogra rule by offeringpriceless sacrifice these great martyrs laid the foundation for the struggle ofrights and justice for people of Kashmir,” the conglomerate said.