Srinagar, Dec 27: The theft of the holy relic (Prophet Muhammad’s hair) from Hazratbal shrine on December 27, 1963 caused a stir in the entire sub-continent. The news of the theft spread like wild fire. People came out on the streets to register their protest. A group of people marched in the historic Lal Chowk. On seeing a crowd, the then general secretary of National Conference, Rashid Bakshi, who also happened to be the brother of Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad, appeared on the scene.
He wanted to address the people. But the angry people hooted and threw kangries (Fire pots which Kashmiris carry with them to keep themselves warm) on him. They also set ablaze his Jeep. He had to run away for his life.
Noted historian, Shabnam Qayoom sees Bakshi Rashid’s hand in the theft. According to him, Nehru’s Kamraj Plan saw the end of Bakshi regime. “A less known person Shamas-ud-Din was installed as Prime Minister of the state. Bakshi Rashid who was active and well known in National Conference felt insulted and vowed to avenge the humiliation.”
Qayoom further says: “The holy relic was recovered when Bakshi Rashid led the investigating team to a house boat at Miskeen Bagh. Bakshi Rashid was hand cuffed. During interrogation he said he had stolen the relic on the directions of Pandit Nehru.” This perhaps is the reason behind concealing the names of the culprits
People from all walks of life came together and formed an action committee for recovery of the holy relic. For the first time Kashmiris rose above petty considerations, forged unity and fought unitedly. A few persons were arrested. An agricultural assistant identified as Abdul Rashid of Tral after hearing about the theft went to Hazratbal shrine where he was taken into custody.
Then on January 30, 1964 Lal Bahadur Shastri came to Srinagar and met a number of persons including Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad, Moulana Farooq and Sheikh Farooq. On February 3, Moulana Masoodi, Moulana Farooq, Syed Meerak Shah were taken to Hazratbal. Noor-ud-Din Banday came out with a box from the shrine.
The relic was identified. Veteran journalist, Late Sonaullah Bhat has questioned the mode of identification in his book Kashmir: 47 to 77. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru lost all hope. According to him Kashmir had been lost. When his intelligence officer, BN Mullick phoned him about the recovery of the relic, he said: “You have saved Kashmir for India.” The intelligence officer says in his book My days with Nehru: “It was an intelligence operation never to be made public.”
On February 12, the then Home Minister, Gulzari Lal Nanda said on the floor of the parliament that the investigation would take a week to complete. “The culprits shall be identified and brought to justice.” The outcome of the investigation has not been made public to this day.
