Today marks 29 years since the martyrdom of renowned Kashmiri pro-freedom leader and human rights activist Jalil Ahmad Andrabi, who was brutally killed in Indian custody in 1996.
Born on January 30, 1960, in Pulwama, Jalil Andrabi was a dedicated member of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and a strong advocate for human rights and Kashmir’s freedom movement. On March 8, 1996, he was abducted by Major Avtar Singh of the 5 Rashtriya Rifles under the pretext of interrogation. He was subjected to severe torture in custody, leading to his death.
A post-mortem report confirmed the inhumane torture he endured. However, instead of being punished, India facilitated Major Avtar Singh’s escape to the United States to evade justice.
Jalil Andrabi’s extrajudicial killing remains a stain on India’s so-called democracy and highlights the state-backed human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. He was martyred for exposing Indian brutality in Kashmir at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Even after 29 years, Andrabi’s family is still deprived of justice. The Kashmiri people continue to resist India’s illegal occupation and vow to carry forward the struggle for freedom, honoring the sacrifices of leaders like Jalil Andrabi.
