As Jammu and Kashmir is commemorating the martyrdom of 22 Kashmiris killed in police firing outside the central jail in Srinagar this day in 1931 during the reign of Dogra Maharaja, Hari Singh, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and former CM Omar Abdullah visited the Martyrs' Graveyard at Naqashband Sahib locality in the old city area separately to offer 'Fateha' prayers and floral tributes. Congress state president GA Mir also paid floral tributes to martyrs at Martyrs’ Graveyard.The leaders paid for peace of the departed souls.Sources said the CM reached the Martyrs’ Graveyard at 8:30 am along with his cabinet colleagues including Syed Basharat Bukhari, Syed Altaf Bukhari, Abdul Haq Khan and others. They paid floral tributes to the martyrs and offered fateh. The chief minister led the official ceremony to pay tributes to the martyrs on Mazar-e-Shuhada, which was attended by police chief K Rajendra and other officials.After Sayeed left, Omar along with other leaders of opposition National Conference - Ali Mohammad Sagar and Nasir Aslam Wani - reached the Martyrs’ Graveyard and paid floral tributes. Congress’s Mir followed the suit.
Meanwhile, the authorities have imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and placed separatist leaders under house arrest to thwart a united rally called by Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik.Police sources said the restrictions have been imposed in six areas of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal and Maisuma today (Monday) to “maintain law and order in the city”.A controversy of sorts has surfaced between the ruling coalition partners, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Monday's official functions.Sayeed-led PDP regards those killed in 1931 police firing as martyrs since they laid down their lives fighting against the autocratic rule of a king. The BJP on the other hand celebrates the Dogra Maharaja rule in Jammu and Kashmir as a golden period.The party leaders in the state have decided to stay away from all official functions on Monday connected with the commemoration of 1931 martyrs. (KNS)