Martyrs’ Day in a muzzled Kashmir
The Tribune Editorial: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dramatically scaled the locked gate of the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar when he was prevented from attending the solemn function by the UT administration.
Updated At : 07:04 AM Jul 15, 2025 IST
ON July 14, the spirit of democratic remembrance clashed with the heavy hand of state power in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s dramatic act of scaling the locked gate of the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar exposed the growing discomfort of the administration with public political expression in the union territory. Martyrs' Day, commemorating the 22 Kashmiris killed by the Dogra Maharaja's forces in 1931, has long been a solemn occasion. The administration’s decision to place several political leaders, including Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, under house arrest and barricade the Mazar-e-Shuhada has sent a chilling message. It wasn’t just about security. It was about rewriting memory — and who gets to remember.
