Mir terms Maqbool Bhat as `Saheb’

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 29: Ruling National Conference three-time MLA from Kupwara, Saifullah Mir today not only addressed JKLF co-founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat as `Saheb’ but also described Trehgam as historical town of Kupwara district for being birth place of Bhat in the Legislative Assembly.
“I’m not ashamed of calling Trehgam as historical town of Kupwara district for twin reasons. First, it was headquarters of Plebiscite Front of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and second, it was birth place of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat Saheb’’, Mr Mir said when quizzed by PDP MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat as to why he had referred Trehgam as historical town.
MLA Domana, Bharat Bushan was lone voice of dissent to the remarks of Saifullah.
Saifullah Mir was speaking on the Appropriation Bill in the Assembly when he referred to Trehgam as historical town.
PDP MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat interrupted Saifullah Mir and wanted to know that there was no historical significance attached to Trehgam as per his knowledge excepting the fact that it was birth town of Maqbool Bhat.
“He (Mr Bhat) might by accepting that I would say no’’, Saifullah said citing his twin reasons for historical significance of Trehgam.
Mohammad Maqbool Bhat was hanged in Tihar jail of New Delhi on February 11, 1984 for killing of security personnel including a Crime Branch Inspector Amar Chand on September 14, 1966. He was found guilty of killings and sentenced to death. He had escaped from Srinagar prison but was captured in Pakistan. His clemency petition was turned down by the then President Giani Zail Singh as JKLF members had on February 6, 1984 murdered Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in Birmingham, England seeking release of Bhat.