J&K CM Omar Abdullah bypasses security, climbs wall to reach Martyrs’ Graveyard

Amid ongoing tensions over the political status and commemorative practices in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was seen on video climbing the boundary wall of the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar on July 14, a day after alleging he was forcibly detained at home to prevent him from observing Martyrs’ Day.

The day marks the killing of 22 Kashmiris by Dogra forces in 1931, a pivotal moment in the region’s political history, often invoked by pro-autonomy parties.

Abdullah’s dramatic act came after restrictions prevented political leaders from accessing the site on July 13 — an event the government of India has stopped officially recognizing since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Abdullah said he had not informed authorities before arriving at the site, having been previously obstructed from visiting the graveyard on July 13.

He described being confined to his home that day, asserting that a bunker was placed at his gate and attempts were made to physically stop him.

Once inside the graveyard, he recited Fatiha, paying tribute to the 22 Kashmiri protesters killed during the July 13, 1931 uprising.

Addressing the media, Abdullah questioned the legality of security actions, stating: “These policemen… sometimes forget the law. Under which law did they try to stop us today?”

He added: “They say this is a free country, but sometimes they treat us as slaves. We are not anyone’s slaves — only the people’s.”

Several political leaders had earlier accused authorities of imposing restrictions to prevent political gatherings on Martyrs’ Day. Abdullah, along with MLAs and senior NC figures, claimed being blocked from attending memorial events the previous day.

July 13 commemorates the deaths of 22 Kashmiris shot during protests against Maharaja Hari Singh’s regime in 1931. Once a publicly observed holiday before the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, it has not been officially recognized since 2020.

While Abdullah criticized the erasure of this memory, BJP national leader Tarun Chugh denounced his comparison of the 1931 incident with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, calling it “twisting facts.”