Sipahi Maqbool Hussain
Sipahi Maqbool Hussain was a sepoy for the Pakistan Army who took part in the 1965 War against India. In 1965, Maqbool Hussain was taken as a prisoner by the Indian forces, but he was never given the status of a Prisoner of War, which provides him with certain rights and benefits. He vanished and was declared missing on August 20, 1965.
The Indian Army thought they could break down Sipahi Maqbool and take information from him. They tried everything in their power, all sorts of mental and physical torture, but they could never break Maqbool Hussain’s resilience. The torture grew to such an extent that they cut off Sipahi Maqbool’s tongue, taking away his power to speak forever.
When Sipahi Maqbool Hussain was released (2005) he had already lost his senses due to the brutal torture he faced at the hands of the Indian Army for 40 years. When he was questioned about his identity, he kept replying by writing: “No. 335139”, which was his Army bearing number.
He was recipient of Sitara Jurrat. War veteran Sepoy Maqbool Hussain breathed his last at CMH Attock ( 29 Aug 2018).
