DFP terms M Ashraf Sehrai’s death as a national loss

Terms his death as a clear case of custodial killing

Srinagar/Islamabad: Acting chairman Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Mehmood Ahmed Saghar has expressing deep sense of shock over demise of veteran Kashmiri liberation leader and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and termed his death as a national loss.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the DFP acting chairman while eulogising the supreme sacrifices of M Ashraf Sehrai and his family said that the deceased leader’s contribution to Kashmir cause would be written in golden words and remembered for a long time in the annals of Kashmir history. Terming him as a man of principle Saghar said that Seharai never compromised his ideals. Extending his condolences to the bereaved family he prayed for the departed soul. Terming his death as a national loss he said that the deceased leader’s death in prison was clearly a case of extrajudicial killing as he was subjected to torture and put in abysmal conditions in the jail. “The prison authorities’ deliberate attempt to deprive him of the basic amenities that including the proper medical checkup amounts to a crime of serious nature”, Saghar said adding that it was custodial murder for which the Indian government was directly responsible. “Since Indian government is hell bent on punishing every Kashmiri resistance leader there is dire need to have a credible investigation into the incident to ascertain the real facts that led to the tragic death of the Kashmiri leader.

Saghar also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Nazi Ahmad Tinda. Hailing from the Kadipora area of Islamabad Mr. Tinda was a close associate of the DFP chairman Shabir Ahmed Shah. He was an active supporter of the anti-liquor movement of 1982, which was then spearheaded by the incarcerated DFP chairman.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement the DFP spokesman on behalf of the incarcerated party chairman Shabir Ahmed Shah extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. “Seharai was an epitome of sacrifices; his contribution to the ongoing liberation struggle would be remembered for a long time in the history of Kashmir”, the spokesman quoted Shah as saying.

The spokesman also appealed the Kashmiri masses to attend funeral procession of Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and funerals in absentia in their respective areas. He deplored the occupation authorities’ move to impose restrictions to prevent mammoth gathering on the funeral of Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai. In view of the recent spike in corona cases in Indian the spokesman reiterated his party’s call for release of all illegally detained Kashmiri prisoners and Hurriyat leaders who continue to languish in Tihar and other Indian jails for the last several years.