Mohammad Ashraf Khan, famously, known as Ashraf Sehrai was buried at the Martyrs’ graveyard in Kupwara’s Lolab area on Thrusday.
Sehrai, 77, was shifted from Udhampur jail to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu on Tuesday after complaining of chest pain breathing issues. He died there. Postmortem reports said that the Hurriyat leader had been tested positive for the coronavirus.
Anticipating large participation of people, the authorities had put restrictions on the entry of people from outside, news agency GNS reported.
Video of Shaheed #AshrafSehrai's last rites performed.#AshrafKhanSehrai, 77, was a victim of custodial, extra-judicial killing by #India who denied him due care while in preventative detention, charged under the draconian PSA" – @WKFMofficial
— Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur (@M_A_Thakur) May 6, 2021
1000s more #Kashmir'is are at risk pic.twitter.com/PHvFyQ3wI1
The authorities did not allow the locals to participate in the last rites of the departed leader on fearing a law-and-order situation and the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Burial of separatist leader late Ashraf Shehrai completed as per Covid #protocol in presence of family members at his native place: IGP Kashmir @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) May 5, 2021
Sehrai was arrested after he held funeral prayers for his son and lodged in Udhampur Jail under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
With a political career spanning nearly 60 years, Sehrai spent more than 16 years in jail. He was elected as the Chairman of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in 2018, after his senior Syed Ali Shah Geelani stepped down.
After Sehrai’s demise social media was filled with tributes.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, said that he was “deeply saddened” by the demise of the leader.
Former Cheif Minsiter of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, took to Twitter and wrote, “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.”
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 Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 5, 2021
“The least GOI can do in such dangerous circumstances is to immediately release these detainees on parole so that they return home to their families,” she said in another tweet.
Some netizens bid adieu to the Hurriyat stalwart by quoting Allama Shibli Noumani’s famous lines.
عجم کی مدح کی، عباسیوں کی داستاں لکھی
— Saad Maqsood (@SaadMaqsud) May 5, 2021
مجھے چندے مقیم آستان غیر ہونا تھا
مگر اب لکھ رہا ہوں سیرت پیغمبر خاتمﷺ
خدا کا شکر ہے یوں خاتمہ بالخیر ہونا تھا.#Kashmir #Freedom #Ahraf_Sehrai pic.twitter.com/AtA3FrhmYI