Srinagar:  Today marks the ninth anniversary of  martyrdom of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, the young leader of Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir, whose sacrifice continues to inspire resistance in the region.

It wasn’t the roar of gunfire or the march of soldiers that unsettled occupied Kashmir one silent evening; it was an image. A young boy, just out of his teens, gazing steadily into the camera, clutching an AK-47—not with anger, but with a calm, unwavering resolve of someone who had surrendered everything but his spirit. That boy was Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

In commemoration, a complete shutdown and strike have been observed across occupied Kashmir, with additional military deployments to maintain order.

Burhan born in 1994 in the town of Tral in Indian occupied Kashmir, emerged as a prominent face of the Kashmiri struggle against Indian oppression.

His journey into activism deepened after the killing of his brother by Indian forces on April 13, 2015, a pivotal moment that galvanized his resolve.

Wani became a symbol of resistance, using both social media and armed struggle to voice Kashmiri aspirations.

On July 8, 2016, Indian forces martyred Wani during an encounter, but his legacy endures. His death ignited widespread protests and a harsh 53-day curfew in the Kashmir Valley. Despite the military crackdown, his memory remains alive among Kashmiris, who continue to honor him as a hero and martyr.

Burhan Wani’s funeral drew over two million mourners, making it one of the largest in Kashmiri history. The protests that followed resulted in the martyrdom of over 100 Kashmiri youths, according to local reports, as Indian security forces responded with force.

Today, Wani is remembered as a symbol of fearless resistance and the quest for freedom. His ideological stance and sacrifice continue to inspire generations of Kashmiris seeking independence and self-determination.

His anniversary serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle and the enduring legacy of Kashmiri movement.