APHC leader pays tribute to July 13 martyrs

Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader and Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has paid tribute to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, describing their sacrifices as a significant part of Kashmir's political history and collective memory.

In a statement, Bhat said the courage of those who lost their lives on July 13, 1931, continued to inspire generations of Kashmiris in their pursuit of what he described as justice, dignity and the right to self-determination.

He said attempts to diminish the historical importance of Martyrs' Day could not remove its significance from public memory. "History is preserved by the sacrifices of people, not by official notifications," he said, adding that July 13 remained a landmark date in Kashmir's modern history.

Bhat recalled that 22 unarmed Kashmiris were killed during protests against the then autocratic rule in Jammu and Kashmir, describing the incident as a turning point that contributed to political awareness and demands for civil and political rights.

He also referred to the incident in which several individuals were reportedly shot while attempting to complete the call to prayer, saying the episode had become a symbol of courage and resilience.

The JKSM chairman said subsequent events in Kashmir's history had involved significant human suffering and called for international attention towards what he described as unresolved political issues affecting the region.