J&K CM scales wall to pay tribute to martyrs

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and his National Conference colleagues on Monday dodged police curbs, sprinted on foot and scaled a wall to pay tributes to 21 Kashmiris killed by the Dogra army in 1931, a day after several political leaders alleged they were not allowed to visit the Mazar-e-Shohada (martyrs' graveyard) in Srinagar. Videos of the CM and his colleagues scaling the wall of the cemetery were shared widely on social media.

- Mir Ehsan

“Paid my respects & offered Fatiha (prayers) 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 Naqshband Sahib shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,” Omar posted on X.

Health and education minister Sakina Ittoo also reached the graveyard on a scooty, allegedly without any official protocol.