J&K CM Omar Abdullah climbs wall to visit Martyrs’ graveyard, says he was “Physically Grappled” by authorities

Srinagar, July 14: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday climbed over a boundary wall to access the Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar’s Naqshband Sahib area after allegedly being prevented from entering by security forces. The dramatic move came a day after J&K Police sealed the cemetery and placed top political leaders under house arrest, effectively stopping them from marking the July 13 anniversary of the 1931 killings by Dogra forces under Maharaja Hari Singh.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel for the latest news, alerts & updates – Don’t miss out!

Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, said he decided to visit the site without prior notice after being detained on Kashmir Martyrs' Day.

“Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way, forcing me to walk from Nawhatta Chowk. They blocked the gate to the Naqshband Sahib shrine, forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me, but I was not going to be stopped today,” Abdullah posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The graveyard is adjacent to the revered Naqshband Sahib shrine, making it a significant site for commemorations.

Earlier in the day, Abdullah also aimed at the local press, criticizing what he called a media blackout of the incident. “Take a look at our local newspapers — both from Jammu and Srinagar, English and vernacular. You’ll be able to distinguish the cowards from the ones with guts,” he wrote. He accused several outlets of ignoring the “lockdown” of elected representatives and sarcastically added, “I hope the size of the envelope was worth it.”

Posting images of police and armoured vehicles stationed outside his residence, Abdullah condemned the alleged role of “unelected nominees of New Delhi” in suppressing political freedoms in the region.

Joining the chorus of protest, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also criticized the restrictions, emphasizing that real unity between Kashmir and the rest of India would come only when Kashmir’s historical figures are given equal respect.

“The day you accept our heroes as your own, just as Kashmiris have embraced yours — from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh — that day, as PM Modi once said, the ‘dil ki doori’ (distance of hearts) will truly end,” she posted on X.