Mohammad Numan
For 13 years Habibullah Bhat nursed only one dream. He wanted to see his son. Bhat died without that happening. Bhat's wife Khadija Begum had died with the same unrealised dream 15 years ago, two years after her son Mohammad Maqbool went missing.
He was arrested by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from Machwa on the outskirts of Srinagar city, says the family. On July 21, 1990 when insurgency had begun in Kashmir, Maqbool, a resident of Gangbugh in Batamaloo left home along with friend Nisar Ahmad. "They were arrested by CRPF and taken to Hari Niwas (an interrogation centre)," says Maqbool's brother Mohammad Sultan. "Nisar was released after some days but there was no news of Maqbool".
It marked the beginning of a search that is yet to yield any result.
"When we failed to locate him (Maqbool), we lodged a complaint with Sadar police," Sultan says. "That didn't help in tracing him". The family turned to the judiciary. "We filed a (writ) petition before (J-K) High Court," Sultan says. "The court appointed an inquiry officer. The officer concluded that Maqbool was arrested by CRPF and asked it to pay Rs 50,000 to the family".
In fact, the police and CRPF had denied having any knowledge of Maqbool's arrest and filed sworn affidavits in the court too.
After the inquiry, Justice Rizvi directed police to take action against the CRPF personnel. "Police didn't act," Sultan says. "In the meantime, Justice Rizvi was transferred and Justice Gandhi took over. He rejected the previous inquiry report and appointed a new inquiry officer. Seventeen years have passed but I am still fighting for justice," says Sultan.
Sultan recalls Maqbool as simple but ambitious. He wanted to study despite adverse family conditions. After passing class 12, circumstances forced him to shoulder the family responsibility and he decided to run a business. "He hired a shop at Batamaloo market," Sultan says. "He was hard working and wanted to excel".
Sultan says: "I had a lot of expectations from him. I was sure his name would one day figure on the list of top businessmen of the city". Maqbool's name is certainly on a list, but that's of missing persons, his brother adds.
Sultan believes his brother will return. "I am an optimist," he says. "He will return. I had promised my father that Maqbool will return. I have to fulfill it. He died before seeing Maqbool. But the day he returns, my father's soul will rest in peace".
For 13 years Habibullah Bhat nursed only one dream. He wanted to see his son. Bhat died without that happening. Bhat's wife Khadija Begum had died with the same unrealised dream 15 years ago, two years after her son Mohammad Maqbool went missing.
He was arrested by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from Machwa on the outskirts of Srinagar city, says the family. On July 21, 1990 when insurgency had begun in Kashmir, Maqbool, a resident of Gangbugh in Batamaloo left home along with friend Nisar Ahmad. "They were arrested by CRPF and taken to Hari Niwas (an interrogation centre)," says Maqbool's brother Mohammad Sultan. "Nisar was released after some days but there was no news of Maqbool".
It marked the beginning of a search that is yet to yield any result.
"When we failed to locate him (Maqbool), we lodged a complaint with Sadar police," Sultan says. "That didn't help in tracing him". The family turned to the judiciary. "We filed a (writ) petition before (J-K) High Court," Sultan says. "The court appointed an inquiry officer. The officer concluded that Maqbool was arrested by CRPF and asked it to pay Rs 50,000 to the family".
In fact, the police and CRPF had denied having any knowledge of Maqbool's arrest and filed sworn affidavits in the court too.
After the inquiry, Justice Rizvi directed police to take action against the CRPF personnel. "Police didn't act," Sultan says. "In the meantime, Justice Rizvi was transferred and Justice Gandhi took over. He rejected the previous inquiry report and appointed a new inquiry officer. Seventeen years have passed but I am still fighting for justice," says Sultan.
Sultan recalls Maqbool as simple but ambitious. He wanted to study despite adverse family conditions. After passing class 12, circumstances forced him to shoulder the family responsibility and he decided to run a business. "He hired a shop at Batamaloo market," Sultan says. "He was hard working and wanted to excel".
Sultan says: "I had a lot of expectations from him. I was sure his name would one day figure on the list of top businessmen of the city". Maqbool's name is certainly on a list, but that's of missing persons, his brother adds.
Sultan believes his brother will return. "I am an optimist," he says. "He will return. I had promised my father that Maqbool will return. I have to fulfill it. He died before seeing Maqbool. But the day he returns, my father's soul will rest in peace".
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