Today marks 29 years since the martyrdom of Kashmiri pro-freedom leader and human rights advocate Jalil Ahmad Andrabi, who was brutally murdered while in Indian custody in 1996.
Born on January 30, 1960, in Pulwama, Andrabi was a key member of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and a staunch defender of human rights and Kashmir’s independence. On March 8, 1996, he was abducted by Major Avtar Singh of the 5 Rashtriya Rifles under the guise of interrogation. He was subjected to inhumane torture in custody, leading to his tragic death.
Read more: Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Kashmir’s Right to Self-Determination on UNCIP Anniversary
A post-mortem confirmed the horrific torture he endured. However, instead of holding the perpetrator accountable, Indian authorities enabled Major Avtar Singh’s escape to the United States, shielding him from prosecution.
Andrabi’s extrajudicial killing stands as a grim reminder of India’s systemic human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir. His assassination was a direct consequence of his efforts to expose Indian atrocities at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Even after nearly three decades, justice remains elusive for his family. The Kashmiri people continue to resist India’s occupation, vowing to uphold the fight for freedom and honor the sacrifices of leaders like Jalil Andrabi.
