Authorities lock Apni Party headquarters in Srinagar to prevent prayer event in memory of July 13, 1931 martyrs

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JULY 13 (STC): The authorities, after disallowing the Apni Party leaders to visit Martyrs’ Graveyard in downtown Srinagar, have gone a step further by locking the Apni Party headquarters in Srinagar. This has been done to prevent the party constituents from holding a prayer event in memory of the July 13, 1931 martyrs, said Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari in a statement to the media.
He said, “Police personnel in a large number have been deployed nearby my residence in Sheikh Bagh, Srinagar, so that I do not reach my colleagues and participate the planned prayer meeting at our office. I have also been informed that police personnel have been stationed at the homes of several of our leaders and senior workers, blocking their participation in today’s Martyrs’ Day commemorations.”
He called these measures “clear and blatant examples of highhandedness and authoritarian behaviour by the administration.”
What is the purpose of stopping us from commemorating Martyrs’ Day, and how does it serve the authorities? Bukhari asked.
“Today, our only intention was to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada (Martyrs’ Graveyard)to pay tribute to the martyrs and then hold a peaceful prayer meeting in their memory. As peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, we would have carried out these activities quietly, without causing any disruption to law and order,” he said.
He expressed his disappointed over the administration’s conduct. He further said that no level of suppression can diminish their reverence for these martyrs. “Their memory lives on in our hearts, and no barriers can prevent us from honouring them from the depths of our hearts,” the Apni Party Chief said.
(STC)