Srinagar now has a Martyrs Memorial Park

Srinagar, Aug 30 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir government and the Floriculture Department have built the Martyrs Memorial Park in the memories of people who were killed in 1931 in an uprising against the Dogra regime in Srinagar.

There has been a demand in the State for memorial to the incident since a long time. The park has been erected on 176 square feet of land in the downtown area of the city, right in front of Central Jail.

"When our government saw that in front of Central Jail there is an historical place, a piece of land where only garbage is being dumped, in the memory of those martyrs, to give them respect, and to remember the place where 23 persons sacrificed their lives, the government took a decision to create a park," said Gulam Sarvar Naqash, the director of the Floriculture Department.

According to officials, the park has been made at a cost of rupees 7 million and currently its beautification is going on. The work on the park started in 2006.

"Slowly the tourists have started coming though it is not developed much, but from past two years its development work is in full swing and this park is improving day by day. The area will also develop when the park will be ready," said Khurshid Khan, a local resident.

During the uprising on July 13, 1931, 21 people sacrificed their lives.

Since then, the day is observed as Martyrs' Day by the government as well as pro-freedom parties. By Parvez Butt (ANI)