Life came to a standstill in Jammu and Kashmir owing to a general strike called by several separatist organisations, including the Hurriyat Conference (Omar), on the occasion of Martyrs' Day on Thursday.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road. Government offices remained closed because of holiday while educational institutions were closed on account of summer vacation. Cutting across party lines, separatists and mainstream political parties alike remembered the sacrifices made by the martyrs of 1931.
During the Dogra rule, 23 people were killed on July 13, 1931, in police firing outside the central jail in Srinagar on the orders of the Maharaja. A large number of people had gathered outside the jail during the trial of Pathan Abdul Qadeer.
Hurriyat Conference (Omar) paid rich tributes to the martyrs at the graveyard on Wednesday. Led by their leader, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, Hurriyat Conference leaders paid floral tributes and also offered prayers there.
However, the breakaway faction of the Hurriyat Conference said they will not allow anybody to 'sell the sacrifices' made by the martyrs. A Hurriyat spokesman said the 'freedom struggle' launched by the martyrs in 1931 will continue till the goal is achieved.
Jammu and kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah was taken into preventive custody along with 20 of his supporters at Munwarabad to prevent him from going to martyrs graveyard.
Several other separatist organisation, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League and Islamic students league also paid rich tribute to martyrs.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt General (Rtd) S K Sinha has urged people to re-dedicate themselves to the ideas of the great martyrs and strive for fulfilling their dreams of a democratic, secular, peaceful and prosperous state. In his message on the occasion, he paid rich tributes to the martyrs and said they sacrificed their lives for the just cause of people.
In his message, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Martyrs' Day reminds us of the sacrifices given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir to uproot autocratic rule and lay edifice of people's government, for the people and by the people." He said the sacrifice will always remain in high echelons of history giving continuous inspiration to the people to strengthen democracy.
Main Opposition National Conference, also joined in remembering the martyrs.