SRINAGAR: Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of the security situation in downtown Srinagar, undertaking an on-ground inspection of deployments and operational preparedness in view of the restrictions imposed on the occasion of July 13.
The DGP, accompanied by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir V.K. Birdi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, assessed the prevailing security situation and reviewed arrangements put in place to maintain law and order across the old city.
During the visit, Prabhat inspected the deployment of security personnel near the Naqshband Sahib shrine, where he interacted with officers and personnel on duty. He reviewed the operational preparedness of the police and other security agencies and directed officials to remain vigilant and ensure effective security management.
The security review comes as authorities imposed restrictions around the Mazar-e-Shuhada (Martyrs’ Graveyard) at Naqshband Sahib to prevent gatherings and visits by political leaders and members of the public intending to pay tributes to the 1931 martyrs.
Police officials said the review was aimed at ensuring peace, maintaining public order and strengthening security deployment across sensitive areas of Srinagar in view of the significance of the day.
July 13 is observed by many in Kashmir as the anniversary of the 1931 incident in which protesters were killed after being fired upon by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh. The day was earlier observed as a public holiday in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, with an official function held annually to honour the martyrs.
Following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in August 2019, the administration removed July 13 from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020, and the official state commemoration has since been discontinued.
