Muzaffarabad: Both sides of the Line of Control are observing the 41st martyrdom anniversary of Maqbool Butt, the guerrilla leader who initiated an armed struggle for the liberation of occupied Kashmir.

On this occasion, rallies, gatherings, and processions are taking place in various locations.

In Muzaffarabad, large crowds have gathered in Lal Chowk, raising anti-India and pro-independence slogans. Demonstrations and processions have also been reported from different parts of Kashmir, marking the anniversary with renewed calls for freedom.

Maqbool Butt was hanged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984. His body was buried within the prison premises, a decision that has remained a point of contention among Kashmiri activists. In Srinagar, a symbolic grave in the Martyrs' Cemetery carries his name, honoring his legacy in the struggle for Kashmir’s independence.

Born on February 18, 1938, in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, Maqbool Butt played a pivotal role in the Kashmiri freedom movement. In 1960, he contested and won the first municipal elections in Azad Kashmir under the BD system. Later, on August 13, 1965, he founded the National Liberation Front (NLF), which laid the groundwork for the armed struggle.

Following his execution, widespread protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley, leading to four days of complete shutdown. On November 4, 1989, Kashmiris killed Judge Neel Kanth Ganjoo, who had sentenced Butt to death.

Revered as "Shaheed-e-Kashmir" (Martyr of Kashmir), Maqbool Butt remains an enduring symbol of the Kashmiri freedom struggle. His unwavering dedication to the cause of Kashmir’s independence continues to inspire generations fighting for their rights.