Srinagar: The Indian Army has renovated the grave of Maqbool Sherwani located in old town Baramulla.
“To honour the great son of the soil, Indian Army has renovated the grave of Janab Maqbool Sherwani. The work commenced in the month of April 2021 and now stands completed. On 15th July 2021 Indian Army organized remembrance prayers at the grave of Janab Maqbool Sherwani and floral tributes were paid. The deeds by this valiant warrior will be remembered and revered by generations to come,” said PRO Defence Srinagar.
“Janab Maqbool Sherwani was a Kashmiri youth who delayed the march of raiders from Pakistan towards Srinagar on Uri-Muzaffarabad highway. They were indulging in plunder, raid and murder of innocent people. He successfully misguided the raiders on to the wrong path when he was asked to guide them towards Srinagar airport,” the PRO said.
“Janab Sherwani and his volunteers, comprising of various communities with no military training, set up road blocks and demolished bridges, thus protecting the fastest access to Srinagar. Subsequently the raiders realized that their march towards Srinagar Airport has been delayed deliberately by Maqbool Sherwani,” he said.
The PRO further said: “The brave warrior was caught by raiders & his body was mutilated and crucified before firing 14 bullets on it. The body was nailed to a plank and tied till the Indian Army got it down. He died a martyr’s death on 07 November 1947 but not before inspiring the Kashmiris to rise up against the raiders.”
“Two weeks after his death, Mahatma Gandhi paid tribute to him in a prayer meeting in Delhi to honour the supreme sacrifice made by the brave heart. The Indian Army paid tribute to the martyr and the 2nd Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was formally christened as “SHERWANI PALTAN”,” he added.
