Even minister Sakina Itoo barred from visiting Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for School Education, Health and Social Welfare Sakina Itoo was on Monday barred from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar to pay tributes on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Itoo said she reached the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM to pay humble tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, but was prevented from entering due to heavy deployment of Indian forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves.
“I tried to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM today to pay my humble tributes to our martyrs of 13th July. However, due to the heavy deployment of Indian forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering,” Itoo said in a statement shared on X. She was accompanied by JKNC Women’s Wing Provincial President Er. Sabiya Qadri.
Itoo said physical barriers cannot prevent people from honouring the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs. “Their memory, courage, and legacy will forever remain alive in our hearts. We will continue to pay our tributes with dignity and unwavering respect,” she added.
A siege of concertina wires, plastic barricades, GI sheets and poles was laid near Nowhatta to prevent access to the graveyard.
Restrictions were imposed across Srinagar to prevent a repeat of last year’s incident when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scaled a fence to offer tributes after police locked the gates.
