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In a scathing attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah claimed he was “locked up” inside his residence shortly after returning from Delhi on Sunday evening. Calling the move a blatant example of the "tyranny of the unelected," Abdullah shared images on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing a heavy police presence outside his Srinagar home, including an armoured vehicle stationed at the entrance.

"To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley - Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today, the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J\&K," Abdullah posted. In a follow-up tweet, he stated, "The unelected government locked up the elected government."

The house arrest of elected representatives, including members of his own party, comes on the eve of July 13 observed in Kashmir as Martyrs’ Day, commemorating the 1931 killings of 22 Kashmiris who rose against the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh under British Raj. The day has historically held political and emotional significance in the region.

Condemning the detentions and restrictions, Abdullah compared the 1931 killings in Kashmir to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. "13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy. What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today, but we will not forget their sacrifices," he said in another post.

On Sunday, several leaders from the ruling and opposition parties, including MLAs and former ministers, were either detained or placed under house arrest in the valley. Among them were senior politicians like National Conference founder Farooq Abdullah and PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Mufti took to X to express her outrage at the administration’s clampdown on any observance of the day. "The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) will truly end," she wrote.

"When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13th commemorates our martyrs, those who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always be our heroes," she added.

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Despite its historical and political weight, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration denied permission for the traditional Martyrs' Day event. Security restrictions were imposed in several parts of Srinagar, and officials warned of strict action against those attempting to gather at the Martyrs' Graveyard.

What Happened On July 13, 1931 In Kashmir?

Martyrs’ Day commemorates the events of July 13, 1931, when 22 men were killed by the Dogra army while protesting in support of Abdul Qadeer, who had urged Kashmiris to oppose the Dogra monarchy. The massacre sparked widespread unrest and led to political reforms, including the introduction of legislative assembly elections, a major shift in the region’s governance under British administration.

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Previously, Martyrs' Day ceremonies were marked by official gun salutes, floral tributes, and visits by political leaders to the graveyard. However, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, such events have been increasingly curtailed. In 2020, Martyrs' Day and Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday were dropped from the list of official holidays. Instead, the administration declared September 23, the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh as a public holiday.