( Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

Thirty-four years ago, on April 6, 1990, Kashmir University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq, his Personal Secretary, Abdul Gani Zargar and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) General Manager, Mr. H L Khera are kidnapped by terrorists. Four days after their abduction, on April 10, 1990, all the three are brutally killed, as demands of the terrorists were not met.

 Despite frantic efforts, the then administration failed to save the trio. Newspaper reports of that time (reproduced by Kashmir Rechords) suspected some University Staff members were behind the abduction of their Vice Chancellor. This was further collaborated from the fact that a senior University Staffer had tried to mediate with the terrorists ( between April 7 to April 9, 1990) in order to meet their demands.  

   Faded from Public Memory

 The loss of Prof. Haq, his Secretary and Mr. Khera sent shockwaves throughout the region, yet as time passed, their names have faded from public memory. Despite their significant contributions to society and education, their tragic demise has been overshadowed by other events as hardly anyone remembers them either on University Campus or at HMT establishments.  More tragic is that their killers were acquitted after 19 years of their targeted and brutal killing as investigating agencies failed to prove the case!

Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq was not merely an academician; he was a visionary leader who believed in the transformative power of education. As the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, he had dedicated himself to fostering academic excellence and creating an environment conducive to learning and research.  A Scholar of repute, Prof. Haq had spearheaded initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that students received practical exposure and were equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the modern world.

Similarly, H.L. Khera, the General Manager, was a stalwart in his own right—a symbol of integrity, diligence, and professionalism. With decades of experience in administration and management, he had played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth functioning of HMT’s day-to-day operations.

Beyond their professional accomplishments, Prof. Haq and Mr. Khera were known for their kindness, compassion, and willingness to help others. Yet, despite the profound impact of their loss, the memory of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq and H.L. Khera seems to have faded from public consciousness. Barring a customary memorial lecture once in a blue moon, their names have been relegated to the sidelines, overshadowed by more recent events.

Seeking Justice: A Call for Accountability

In a deeply distressing turn of events, the families of H.L. Khera, Prof  Musher-ul-Haq and his Secretary  whose lives were tragically cut short by terrorists  in Kashmir, have been dealt another blow. Despite the heinous nature of the crime and the glaring evidence pointing to the perpetrators, the killers were acquitted, leaving the families of the victims grappling with a profound sense of injustice.

On April 21, 2009, the Special Court, under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in Jammu, acquitted those charged with Musher-ul-Haq’s murder after a trial, which had lasted nineteen years. The Presiding Officer ruled that one confession was inadmissible and expressed doubts about the voluntary nature of others. In the absence of any corroborating evidence, he dismissed the charges against all of the accused.

In honoring the memory of H.L. Khera and Musher-ul-Haq, let us not only remember their lives and their contributions to society but also reaffirm our commitment to justice, accountability, and peace. Let us stand in solidarity with all those families who have been affected by acts of terrorism in Kashmir all these years.