SHABIR IBN
YOUSUF
Trehgam (Kupwara), Feb 11: Protest demonstrations were held in the
native village Shaheed Maqbool Bhat on his death anniversary since Saturday
morning as hundreds of people took to streets and demanded that his mortal
remains should be returned to Valley. A complete shutdown was observed in this
frontier district of north Kashmir.
Chanting pro-freedom slogans the
protestors who even included children and women termed Shaheed Maqbool Bhat as a
“great man who taught us the lesson of freedom”.
Maqbool was hanged to death
on this day in 1984 in Tihar jail and his mortal remains were buried in the jail
premises.
The protestors were holding placards with text: “Long Live
Maqbool. He was the freedom fighter hanged for demanding birthright. Gandhi was
also demanding the same, why he was not hanged?”
Despite heavy reinforcement
of police and CRPF in the area, a local addressed the protestors. “What did
India achieve by eliminating great Maqbool, could India kill the sentiments of
Azadi? Could they control the revolt?,” he asked.
Later the protestors
carried out a procession to Maqbool’s residence and expressed solidarity with
his mother.
Maqbool’s mother while speaking on the occasion said “I am proud
of Maqbool, by offering blood he gave a new life to movement. He stood by the
cause of freedom.”
Reports of protests were also received from other areas
of Kupwara district.