The Black Day

Sir,
The Government that claims to be secular and nationalist is observing the black day of 13th July as a Martyrs Day every year. It was a part of a communal movement which spread up to the farthest corner of the State that is Kotli and Mirpur and thus keeping this communal tension alive. The happening on that day is not likely to be taken as free from prejudice unless supported by authentic and impartial version available and leave the reader to form his own opinion, as to whether the persons who were killed as a result of the police/military firing during these communal disturbances created, merited being officially declared as national martyrs.
Such is the origin of the Martyrs Day which is now being officially observed as National Day by the so called secular Government.
Here is how Mr G S Raghavan formerly Editor of the “Hindustan Times” the “Nation”, the ‘Sunday Times’ and other papers described these happenings in Srinagar in his book ‘The warning of Kashmir’ published in 1931.
‘‘ He says :
‘‘The hearing in jail fall on 13th July. On that day, a mob stormed the jail and demanded admittance along with the Sessions  Judge. When the Judge had passed the gates, the crowd also attempted to get in. The other gates  had been forced and the inner gates were attacked. At the suggestion of the Judge, two Muslim lawyers representing the accused harangued the visitors to go out of the jail precints. Findings that there was no possibility of ingress, the crowd went out and started stoning officials and set fire to the police lines. The Police force was then called in. All efforts to pacify the unruly mobs proved futile. While there was commotion outside the jail there was  also disturbances inside. Prisoners tried to force the front gates. Shows this time, certain prisoners were being  taken from the court to the jail. The crowd stoned the policemen and the prisoners were liberated.
The prospect was by no means satisfactory. The District Magistrate’s order was defied, who had been summoned to the spot by the time, declared the crowd to be an ”unlwaful assembly” and ordered its dispersal The order was defied and finding that the mob could neither be pacified not dispersed, the District Magistrate directed fire to be opened. The crowd fell off but later it re-assembled and resumed stoning. It had to be dispersed with a Lathi charge. Part of the crowd, however, moved towards the Hari Parbat Fort; the covalry had to pursue it and disperse it again. A  section of the recalcitrants proceeded towards a place called Maharaj Ganj which is a business locality and loot over an extensive area followed. From Bhori Kadal to Alikahl-a long stretch, the Hindu shops was raided. Other localities such as Safakadal, Ganji Khud and Nawakadal too formed the centres of loot. Bazar streets were littered with property, books of accounts were burnt, the Hindu shopkeepers were molested, in short pandemonium prevailed.”
‘‘The Hindu merchants lost lakhs worth of goods. Mr Wakefield has affirmed that the articles were so strewn about the roads that his car would not pass, it is also his testimony that not a single Mohamedan complained to him about his premises having been invaded by the looters”.
‘‘The most extraordinary portion of the story was that almost simultaneously with the happenings at Srinagar, there  was an uprising at a place named Vicharnag, some 5 to 6 miles away. It had been stated that untold atrocities were committed there; men owning lakhs were reduced to indigence and women were subjected to the worst possible and the most indecent assaults. A military force was despatched to the place, but by that time the havoc had been completed. Elsewhere, the Hindus were the victims of ambuscade. Some lost their lives and many suffered physical injuries. Stray assaults continued till long after.’’
Yours etc…
Yuvraj Gupta
31/7, Trikuta Nagar Jammu

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