Maqbool Bhat was a revolutionary who lived and died for the struggle of national liberation of Jammu Kashmir which is occupied by India, Pakistan and China. For his consistent struggle for the national liberation of Kashmir both India and Pakistan declared him an enemy. Both India and Pakistan punished, charged, arrested and penalised him for his struggle for his motherland divided, occupied Jammu Kashmir.
He was a freedom fighter and hero for the followers of his struggle, those who believe in a United Independent and prosperous Kashmir
He was born on 18th February 1938, in Indian Occupied Kashmir(IOK) and was killed by hanging on 11 February 1984 at the age of nearly 46 years old, by a verdict passed by Indian supreme court under section three (3) of “Enemy Agents Ordinance 1943.
(A definition): 2(b) “Enemy Agent” means a person, not operating as a member of an enemy armed forces, who is employed by, or work for, or acts on instructions received by the enemy.
Prior to being sentenced to death by hanging he was also subject to an earlier death sentence and other criminal charges against him were still valid. He petitioned to the President of India Giani Zail Singh for clemency on the grounds of an unfair trial. On February 6, 1984, JKLF members murdered the Indian diplomat Ravinder Mahatre, in Birmingham, UK. One of their primary demands of JKLF was the release of Maqbool Bhat. After this, Maqbool Bhats petition for clemency was rejected, and Bhat was executed in the Tihar Jail in New Delhi India on February 11, 1984. Farooq Abdullah was the chief minister of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) who signed the black warrant for Maqbool Bhats execution in 1984. After execution he was buried inside the area of Tihar Jail in New Delhi India.
He was a martyr for his followers of national liberation movement and he was inspired by the great revolutionary leader Ernesto Che Guevara .He believed “A revolutionary may die but never the revolution “.
His message to resist the occupation of India Pakistan widely spread and Kashmiri youth took on the streets on 11 day of February every year not only inside Kashmir but all around the world. He is a martyr for them and they want to join his struggle for national independence and want to build a society (without poverty and exploitation) on the basis of equality and prosperity.
Many campaigns are trying to claim the remains of Maqbool Bhat. Once reclaimed to remove them from Tihar Jail New Delhi India to Kashmir, to give his mortal remains a respectable burial suitable for a martyr hero of the nation with full respect, dignity and honour. He will always live in the hearts and minds of his people, followers and all those who believe in, Justice, liberation, independence, humanity and equality.
His only crime was that he wanted to liberate Jammu Kashmir from the brutal clutches and military occupation of India and Pakistan. After his execution his mortal remains still remain in the prison at Tihar Jail in New Delhi India.
Post to his death he was entitled to be buried with the will and wish of his family and followers of his movement of national liberation of Kashmir and according to their religious and cultural beliefs as are all executed persons, this right was not and still is not allowed to Maqbool Bhatt’s remains. India is one of the largest democratic, secular countries in the world. For India to fail to release the Maqbool Bhat mortal remains is against the norms of Indian democracy ,secular values and fundamental human rights locally, regionally and internationally to comply with the demand to shift Maqbool Bhat`s mortal remains to Kashmir will help to increase the grace of Indian democracy regionally and in the world.
As a Kashmiri, we invite all those who believe in, support and respect fundamental human rights to put pressure on Indian government to release the mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat Shaeed from Indian prison to Kashmir.
An Independent Kashmir is the best solution for the regional peace and security and world peace at large. Maqbool Baht is a hero and symbol of national liberation struggle in Kashmir against the brutal military occupation of India-Pakistan.