Jammu, May 05 : Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai died in Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu after developing serious breathing issues on Wednesday.
Officials told that Sehrai who was shifted from Udhampur jail to GMC Jammu yesterday had developed serious breathing issues and breathed his last this afternoon.
“He had multiple ailments and his condition had deteriorated in Udhampur jail after which he was shifted to GMC Jammu on Tuesday,” the officials said. “Sehrai tested positive for Covid post his death as his samples were taken soon after his admission in the GMC Jammu.”
The family of Sehrai, told that an ambulance has been provided and the body will reach Kashmir probably midnight.
The family members said that the authorities have not allowed the funeral prayers at Srinagar and thus the last rites will be performed in Kupwara.
They said only 20 persons have been allowed to participate in the funeral prayers and performing last rites, adding that it has not been decided yet who will lead the funeral prayers. “Let’s see who will be allowed to participate first,” he said.
“The last rites including the burial will be performed till 10:00 AM tomorrow,” the family members said.
The mainstream political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday expressed grief over the demise of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, who breathed his last today in Jammu hospital.
Former chief minister of erstwhile J&K State and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in her tweet said that in today’s India, one pays a price with his life for dissent.
“Deeply saddened to know about Ashraf Sehrai sahab’s sudden demise. Like him countless political prisoners & other detainees from J&K continue to be jailed purely for their ideologies & thought process. In today’s India one pays a price with his life for dissent,” Mehbooba tweeted.
She, however, tweeted that the government amid the prevalent situation should release the detainees on parole.
Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has questioned the government’s rationale behind keeping an octogenarian, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai in jail in spite of the fact that he was battling a plethora of ailments due to his old age.
Terming Sehrai’s demise in incarceration as unfortunate and totally uncalled for, Lone said that there is a dire need to introspect the way system has been dealing with such cases.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Chairman Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, who passed away at a Jammu hospital today.
While expressing grief, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami urged the administration to shift his body to Kashmir at the earliest so that his family could perform his last rites.
Sehrai, according to media reports, was admitted at the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu after his health deteriorated earlier this week at Kot Balwal Jail where he was lodged since July 2020.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also expressed profound grief at the passing away of Muhammad Ashraf Khan (Sehrai) in Jammu. (KNO)
