Chief Minister Omar Abdullah climbs a fence to pay tribute to the July 13 martyrs at Naqshband Sahib graveyard in the Old City of Srinagar on Monday. Pic/PTI
The dramatic scene unfolded a day after Abdullah and several leaders of the National Conference and opposition parties were allegedly put under house arrest to prevent them from going to the graveyard to mark Martyrs' Day on July 13
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah took an autorickshaw from the Khanyar crossing to the martyrs memorial while Minister for Education Sakina Ittoo surprised everyone by riding pillion on a scooty to the memorial
Security forces had sealed the roads leading to the martyrs graveyard from both Khanyar and Nowhatta sides in downtown Srinagar
As soon as Omar Abdullah's cavalcade reached Khanyar in the old city, he got off his vehicle and walked more than a kilometre to reach the graveyard only to find the gates locked by the authorities
The chief minister then climbed over the main gate and entered the graveyard premises to offer 'fateha'. His security men and several other National Conference leaders also did so before the gate was finally thrown open
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