Today marks the martyrdom anniversary of Engineer Haroon Abbas Wani (RA), an esteemed commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and a revered leader in the Kashmiri struggle for freedom. On this very day, January 15, 2020, he embraced martyrdom in the Tantna Gundana region of Doda where he fearlessly confronted the occupying Indian forces in a fierce gun battle.

The Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir is soaked with the blood of countless Muslims. During the partition of 1947, Hindu extremists unleashed unspeakable brutality, slaughtering defenseless Muslims in large numbers. Our dignified Muslim women were subjected to horrific violations, while mosques, schools, and homes were set ablaze. Even in the ongoing freedom movement, the youth of Jammu’s districts have risen against India’s oppressive occupation and offered their blood as the price of freedom. Among these districts, Doda has consistently stood out, with its people fearlessly challenging India’s colonial and repressive designs, many attaining martyrdom in the process.

A shining jewel in this legacy of resistance is Furqanabad Ghat, a village whose brave sons and daughters have repeatedly stood tall against the oppressors. Furqanabad is not merely a geographical entity but a symbol of ideological and intellectual resilience in the freedom struggle. It is the birthplace of great figures like late Saadullah Tantray (RA), a former provincial leader of Jamaat-e-Islami and chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Freedom Movement. His inspiring leadership nurtured generations of Mujahideen thereby transforming Furqanabad’s fertile soil into a sanctuary of courage and sacrifice.

Engineer Haroon Abbas Wani (RA), who attained martyrdom on January 15, 2020, while fighting Indian forces in Doda’s Tantna Gundana region, hailed from this very land of Furqanabad Ghat. His martyrdom adds yet another chapter to the glorious legacy of sacrifice upheld by the Wani family.

This family has long been a torchbearer of resistance in the Jammu region. It holds the unique honor of producing the first female martyr of the Kashmiri freedom movement, Rabia Wani (RA), who was martyred on April 11, 1992, alongside her three brothers—Commander Ijaz Ahmed Wani, also known as Badr Furqani (RA), Ayaz Ahmed Wani (RA), and Irfan Wani (RA)—in a fierce battle against the forces of tyranny. These three brothers and their sister laid down their lives in a single, blood-soaked encounter, leaving behind an example of unity and sacrifice.

The Wani family’s great commitment to the movement has earned them immense respect in the region. Despite facing countless hardships under Indian occupation, they have never compromised their principles or wavered in their resolve. The martyrdom of Engineer Haroon Abbas Wani (RA) is yet another example of the family’s steadfastness, elevating their stature even further.

May Allah accept the priceless sacrifices of these martyrs. May He grant freedom to the people of Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of Indian oppression. And may He bless us with the courage to honor the sanctity of their sacred blood and bestow upon us the sweetness of a life lived in the service of truth, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom. Ameen, Ya Rabb al-Alameen.

This article was translated from Urdu and its author remains unknown